Finding Strength To Carry On

"And so rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." - J.K. Rowling

David was God’s anointed and next in line to be king, but Saul still had the crown and every day he tried new ways to find and kill David. Many times David could have killed Saul, but not wanting to disobey God in doing so, David ran from him instead.  The only safe haven for David, his men, their wives and children was the city of Ziklag.  One day while David and his men were away, the Amalekites raided Ziklag and burned it to the ground, taking their wives and children captive.  David and his men mourned like they’d never mourned before, and when they could mourn no more, David’s men talked about stoning David. This became one of the lowest points in David’s life, and there wasn’t anyone with David to encourage him, but scripture says that “he encouraged (strengthened) himself in the Lord.”  God gave David strength to lead his men to find and defeat the Amakalites to restore what they had lost.  
There will also be low times in our lives when it feels like we are all alone, and that is when we have to remember that God is for us and with us.  Sometimes we have to encourage ourselves in the Lord to find the strength to carry on.  No one else will do it for us.  It’s only when we do ask God for strength that He can restore us anew. 

...he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair... (Isaiah 61:3).