“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (I Samuel 30:6, ESV).

Do you ever feel like your problems are overtaking you? Why doesn’t God just work out all my problems when I’ve been so faithful to Him? And I’ve even prayed and asked God to solve my problems…

We may need to learn a lesson about problem-solving from King David. Before David became Israel’s king, he had a lot of problems to confront. And they were really big problems!

King Saul, the current king of Israel, and his army pursued David all over Israel to kill him. Saul was jealous because David had been chosen by God to be Saul’s successor. And, because of Saul’s relentless pursuit, David had to flee Israel with his followers and go and live in the land of the Philistines.

Then, the Philistine king ordered David to go fight a war for him. While David was away, the Amalekites raided the town where he lived and kidnapped his family and the families of his followers. Upon returning to his town, David’s loyal followers were so distressed that they considered killing him.

Remember, these problems were happening to the one that God had chosen to be the next king of Israel!

Do you suppose David ever questioned God about why all these bad things were happening to him when he was supposed to be the new king?

Well, we know David despaired at times from the Psalms he wrote. But, the way David handled all his problems was that he strengthened himself in the Lord.

Rather than falling into despondency, David worshiped God!

But God didn’t take David’s problems away, He just changed David’s perspective about his problems. David knew that his God was bigger than his problems!

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4, ESV).