Day 3

CRISIS BUILDS STRENGTH

"He raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will." Acts 13:22

We have already looked at faith in our lessons this quarter and found that it grows only as we learn to trust God with our lives. David's speech to Saul in 1 Sam. 17:32-37 may seem arrogant at first but the words are from the lips of an open, trusting young man who has discovered, in moments of crisis, how his God guides and protects him. The fear of those wild animals must have been strong and the struggle awful; deliverance and victory must have seemed miraculous. David was thrown back on his own resources and his God's promises. There was no other help available. But each time he faced a crisis and came through it he had greater reason to trust.

When he faced Goliath and replied to his taunts the words were no idle boast (1 Sam. 17:45). David had confidence built on experience and he took seriously his anointing by Samuel. Truly the Spirit of the Lord was upon him (1 Sam. 16:13).

In the good times of our lives when crisis and change don't block out the sun we are free to take joy in and give praise to God. But it is the darkness of trouble, strife and fear that we really learn about our God and come to trust and lean on him. Look through the Psalms and the evidence is clear; Psalm 18:3-19; 46:1-7; 59:1-4,16; 71:1-5; 116.
Heavenly Father, though I dread the dark times in life, help me to use them to prove you and your love for me.