Strength in Trials: Responding with Faith and Hope

Devotional

Day 1: Responding to Unexpected Hardship: Look Up, Not In or Out

When life throws us curveballs, our natural tendency may be to look inward in despair or outward in blame, but the example of David at Ziklag shows a better way: to look up and strengthen ourselves in the Lord. In the face of devastating loss, David did not remain stuck in grief or bitterness, nor did he lash out at others; instead, he turned to God for strength, guidance, and hope. This pivotal moment reveals that our truest character is shaped not by ease, but by how we respond when everything seems lost. When tragedy strikes, may our first response be to seek God’s presence, trusting that He alone can renew our strength and lead us forward. [56:05]

1 Samuel 30:1-6 (ESV)
Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 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.

Reflection: When you face an unexpected hardship, what would it look like for you to pause and intentionally seek God’s strength before reacting in despair or blame?

Day 2: Jesus Promises Trouble—But Also Overcoming Peace

Difficulties and tribulations are not a matter of “if” but “when,” as Jesus Himself assures us. Yet, He also promises that in the midst of real evil and suffering, we can take heart because He has overcome the world. This means that while pain is unavoidable, misery is optional; our hope is not in the absence of trouble, but in the presence of the One who has conquered it. When the world feels overwhelming, remember that Jesus offers a peace that surpasses understanding, a rest that can only be discovered in the midst of life’s storms. [49:37]

John 16:33 (ESV)
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are experiencing tribulation right now, and how can you invite Jesus’ overcoming peace into that situation today?

Day 3: The Power of Prayer, Praise, and Remembering God’s Faithfulness

When David strengthened himself in the Lord, he prayed, sought godly counsel, praised God, and remembered God’s past faithfulness. These practices are not just spiritual disciplines—they are lifelines in times of trouble. Prayer casts our burdens onto God, praise magnifies Him above our problems, and remembering His faithfulness in the past gives us courage for the present. Even when words fail and all we can do is wait, God meets us in our waiting and renews our strength. [01:04:52]

Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Reflection: Which of these—prayer, praise, or remembering God’s faithfulness—do you most need to practice today, and how will you make space for it?

Day 4: Evil Does Not Win—God Redeems Even the Worst Days

The story of Good Friday reminds us that even when evil seems to triumph, God is at work turning darkness into light. What looked like the worst day in history became the foundation of our hope, because God works the night shift and brings resurrection out of death. Communion is a regular reminder that evil will not have the last word; Jesus’ victory is final, and one day all evil will be destroyed forever. In the meantime, we live in the assurance that God is redeeming our pain and that evil will not win. [01:06:37]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: Think of a situation in your life that feels hopeless or broken—how might God be working behind the scenes to bring good from it?

Day 5: Life Is Short—Choose Today Whom You Will Serve

Life is a vapor, here one moment and gone the next, and none of us knows when our time will come. The invitation is clear: don’t waste a day being afraid of tomorrow or wandering far from God. Instead, choose today to trust Jesus as King, Savior, and Lord, and let Him wash away the old and raise you into new life. Whether through faith, recommitment, or baptism, today is the day to say yes to Jesus and let Him shape you into the kind of person who can spend eternity with Him. [01:18:35]

Joshua 24:15 (ESV)
And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Reflection: What step can you take today—however small—to say “yes” to Jesus and align your life more fully with Him?

Sermon Summary

When we gather together, we do so to honor God, to seek His kingdom first, and to trust that He is present with us—Emmanuel, God with us. Life is full of unexpected events, and how we respond to them reveals the true state of our hearts. Easy days rarely show our character; it’s the curveballs, the tragedies, and the moments of loss that expose what’s really inside us. Whether it’s a personal crisis, a national tragedy, or simply the daily grind, these moments test us and shape us for eternity.

Reflecting on the story of David in 1 Samuel 30, we see a powerful example of how to respond when everything falls apart. David and his men returned to find their city burned and their families taken. The initial responses were deeply human: some wept until they had no strength left, others looked for someone to blame. These are natural reactions, but they don’t bring healing or restoration. Pain is unavoidable, but misery is optional; it’s all about how we steward our pain.

David, however, chose a different path. Instead of looking inward in despair or outward in blame, he looked upward—he strengthened himself in the Lord. This was a hinge moment in his life, a turning point that prepared him to become king. He prayed, sought godly counsel, praised God, remembered God’s past faithfulness, and sometimes simply waited in trust. These practices are not just ancient history; they are the blueprint for how we can respond to our own trials.

We are called to cast our cares on Jesus, to surround ourselves with people who point us back to Him, to praise even when it’s hard, to remember God’s faithfulness, and to wait on Him when we have no words left. Communion reminds us that evil does not win—what looked like the darkest day in history became Good Friday because God turned evil to good. We live in hope, knowing that one day all evil will be destroyed and we will dwell with God forever. Until then, we don’t waste our days in fear or bitterness, but we find our strength, rest, and victory in Jesus.

Key Takeaways

1. How we respond to unexpected hardship reveals our true character. When life is easy, it’s tempting to believe we’re strong and faithful, but it’s in the moments of pain, loss, or crisis that our hearts are truly exposed. These moments are opportunities for God to shape us into people who can spend eternity with Him, if we allow Him to work in us rather than getting stuck in despair or blame. [42:40]
2. Pain is inevitable, but misery is optional. It’s natural to grieve and to weep when tragedy strikes, but we must not remain there. Continually reliving our pain only deepens our wounds, but when we choose to move forward—by looking up to God—we open ourselves to healing and transformation. Stewarding our pain well means refusing to let it define us. [51:58]
3. Blame is a seductive but fruitless response to suffering. Pointing fingers and seeking someone to hold responsible may feel satisfying in the moment, but it never brings true justice or healing. Instead, we are called to pray for justice and trust God to right wrongs, rather than allowing bitterness to take root in our hearts. [54:07]
4. The hinge of spiritual maturity is learning to strengthen ourselves in the Lord. David’s example shows that prayer, praise, remembering God’s faithfulness, and waiting on Him are the means by which we find rest and strength in the midst of chaos. This is not a one-time act, but a continual casting of our cares on Jesus, trusting that He is both able and willing to carry our burdens. [56:05]
5. Communion is a powerful reminder that evil does not win. What seemed like the worst day in history—Jesus’ crucifixion—became the foundation of our hope because God turned evil to good. As we remember Christ’s sacrifice, we are reminded that God is always working, even in the darkest moments, and that one day all evil will be destroyed forever. [66:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:12] - God’s Presence in Our Gathering
[39:35] - The Ski Bum Story: Four Responses
[40:46] - How We React to the Unexpected
[42:40] - Hardship Reveals Our Hearts
[45:06] - Changing Course: A Word for Today
[45:44] - The Story of David and Ziklag
[48:38] - When Tragedy Strikes: David’s Loss
[49:37] - The Reality of Evil and Suffering
[50:46] - Three Responses to Crisis
[53:15] - The Futility of Blame
[56:05] - Strengthening Ourselves in the Lord
[57:26] - How to Find Strength: Prayer, Praise, Remembrance
[64:01] - Waiting on God in the Dark
[65:57] - Communion: Evil Does Not Win
[77:46] - Invitation to Faith and Baptism
[79:23] - Closing Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Samuel 30:1-8 (ESV) — 1 Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire
2 and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way.
3 And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.
4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.
5 David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel.
6 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.
7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
8 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.”

John 16:33 (ESV) — I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) — …casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Observation Questions

What were the three main ways David and his men responded when they discovered Ziklag had been destroyed and their families taken? ([50:46])
According to 1 Samuel 30:6, what did David do differently from the others when faced with tragedy? ([56:05])
In John 16:33, what does Jesus promise about the reality of trouble in this world, and what encouragement does He give? ([49:37])
What does 1 Peter 5:7 instruct believers to do with their anxieties, and why? ([57:26])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think pain is described as unavoidable, but misery is optional? How does this idea challenge the way people usually process suffering? ([51:58])
The sermon says that blame is a “seductive but fruitless response” to suffering. Why might blaming others feel satisfying in the moment, and why does it ultimately fail to bring healing? ([54:07])
What does it mean to “strengthen yourself in the Lord” as David did? How is this different from simply trying to “be strong” on your own? ([56:05])
How does remembering God’s past faithfulness help someone face current or future hardships? ([01:03:16])

Application Questions

When you face unexpected hardship, what is your first instinct—do you look inward in despair, outward in blame, or upward to God? Can you think of a recent example? What would it look like to respond differently next time? ([42:40])
The sermon says, “Pain is unavoidable, but misery is optional.” Is there a painful situation in your life where you feel stuck in misery? What would it mean for you to “steward your pain” well and move forward? ([51:58])
Blame is described as a tempting but unhelpful response. Is there someone or something you have been blaming for your pain or disappointment? What would it look like to release that blame and pray for justice instead? ([54:07])
David surrounded himself with people who pointed him back to God (like Abiathar the priest). Who are the “Abiathars” in your life—people who encourage you to seek God? How can you be intentional about seeking their support when you’re struggling? ([01:01:13])
The sermon mentions practices like prayer, praise, remembering God’s faithfulness, and waiting on Him. Which of these do you find most difficult when you’re in a hard season? What is one step you could take this week to practice it? ([57:26])
Communion is described as a reminder that “evil does not win.” How does regularly remembering Jesus’ sacrifice help you face the dark or confusing moments in your life? ([01:06:37])
The message ends with a call not to waste our days in fear or bitterness. Is there a specific fear or bitterness you need to let go of? What would it look like to find your strength, rest, and victory in Jesus instead? ([01:07:40])

Sermon Clips

Pain in life is unavoidable. Misery is optional. It's all how you steward those times. We can get stuck just looking in. What ifs? Why couldn't? If only. We can get stuck in those. And every time that we relive a tragedy, do you know that your mind micro doses your body with the same harmful chemicals that happened during that tragedy? We're reliving it literally in our body. So yes, cry. Yes, weep. But don't stay there. [00:51:58] (37 seconds) #ChooseHealingNotHarm

``But David strengthened himself in the Lord, his God. He looked up. Didn't look inward. Didn't look outward. David looked up. And it says he was strengthened by God. I think personally, this is the hinge moment in David's life. This is what transforms him. This is going to be the mark of King David is a man when tragedy, when difficulty strikes, his natural response is not to look out or look in. His natural response is to look up. [00:55:46] (47 seconds) #LookUpForStrength

It's why the New Testament says, it's a peace that passes all understanding. It defies logic. It goes beyond it. It's better than that. It only happens in difficult times. And so the Bible says, cast your cares upon him. Peter was a fisherman. You ever gone fishing? What's something you have to do over and over and over and over again? Unless you're my father -in -law who seems to catch fish in a bathtub, like no matter where we're at, he just catches fish or a liar, you're casting over and over. His first cast, no it wasn't. You're casting over and over and over and over and over and over again. That's prayer. [00:59:28] (44 seconds) #RememberGodsFaithfulness

There are moments we just do Isaiah 40, 31. They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like an eagle. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint. That happens when we just wait. I don't know what else to do. I'm just going to sit out on a chair and wait because that's all I can do right now. There's times that that's all we do. Trusting He is sovereign. Trusting He is powerful. Trusting that God is able to work all things for good to those that love Him. And are called according to His purpose. Sometimes that's what they, that's the only thing I can do. [01:04:39] (49 seconds) #GraceThroughFaith

Because if you and I could talk to anybody on that Friday, what would they have told us about that Friday? Anyway, the worst thing imaginable just happened. Jesus is dead. The one we had all hope in. The one we believe was going to change the world. The one we believe was the rightful Messiah. The one we believe was the rightful Messiah. He's dead. Worst day in history, they would have said. But what do we call that day today? We call Good Friday. Why? Because God works the night shift. Because what was meant for evil, God turns to good. That's why. [01:05:57] (52 seconds) #NewLifeInChrist

That we know this when we take communion, evil will not win. Evil does not win. Best seen because of Good Friday. The Bible says evil cheered that day. But the sun came up on Sunday morning and the grave is empty to this day because evil does not win. [01:06:49] (28 seconds)

Don't waste a day being scared of tomorrow. Don't waste a day being scared of tomorrow. Don't waste a day being scared of tomorrow. Don't waste a day being scared of tomorrow. Don't waste a day being scared of tomorrow. Don't waste a day being scared of tomorrow. Don't waste a day being scared of tomorrow. [01:13:12] (58 seconds)

So you know this. Life is short. James says it's a vapor. It's here one minute and it's gone. Nobody knows when. And if you came today and you don't know Jesus as King, Jesus as Savior, Jesus as Lord, don't leave without knowing Him. Scripture says that we're saved by faith through grace, not of works, nothing we do, nothing we have done, nothing keeps us from the cross and nothing earns the cross. It's a gift from King Jesus to you. And He'll keep you in peace and He'll give you strength no matter what. [01:17:11] (60 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does it mean to respond to life's curveballs?

How can prayer and praise strengthen during difficult times?

Why is remembering Jesus crucial in facing adversity?