December 17th, 2020
Family Tree Devotional Series - Week 3 – Joy – Pastor Mark White
Scary Situation
1 Samuel 21:12-13 (ESV)
And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.
Have you ever been between a rock and a hard place? Of course! We all have been through hard, stressful, or down-right scary times. The question is, how do we react in these seasons? If we are like most people, praising God was not the first thing on our minds. But David had a different idea. In the middle of his troubles, his focus was on the Lord.
David was running from King Saul without any food or weapons. He decides to defect to Achish, king of Gath, and this raises suspicions. David was very much afraid. David chose to carve the walls and drool to convince the king that he was insane. And God provided for him every step of the way, even giving David and his men the consecrated bread, and sparing his life from this suspicious king.
Out of this scary season in David’s life, he wrote Psalm 34, a beautiful song of praise that glorifies God and focuses on God’s promises, in the middle of David’s troubles. The opening verse says it all: “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
We all face trouble, but if we are a follower of Jesus, we can know that God will carry us through them. In Psalm 34:8, David declares, “Oh, Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him!”
Focusing on God and His promises will help us have joy in the middle of scary situations.
Scary Situation
1 Samuel 21:12-13 (ESV)
And David took these words to heart and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.
Have you ever been between a rock and a hard place? Of course! We all have been through hard, stressful, or down-right scary times. The question is, how do we react in these seasons? If we are like most people, praising God was not the first thing on our minds. But David had a different idea. In the middle of his troubles, his focus was on the Lord.
David was running from King Saul without any food or weapons. He decides to defect to Achish, king of Gath, and this raises suspicions. David was very much afraid. David chose to carve the walls and drool to convince the king that he was insane. And God provided for him every step of the way, even giving David and his men the consecrated bread, and sparing his life from this suspicious king.
Out of this scary season in David’s life, he wrote Psalm 34, a beautiful song of praise that glorifies God and focuses on God’s promises, in the middle of David’s troubles. The opening verse says it all: “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
We all face trouble, but if we are a follower of Jesus, we can know that God will carry us through them. In Psalm 34:8, David declares, “Oh, Taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the one who takes refuge in him!”
Focusing on God and His promises will help us have joy in the middle of scary situations.
Posted in Family Tree Devos
Recent
Archive
2026
January
The Quiet Struggles Right Next to UsThank you... in advanceA New ThingA Personal GodNot a Moment of HesitationFaith, Family, and a Broken JarAll InThe SoapboxLord, Help Me See...Hidden for our GoodBorrowed KeysIncreasing CapacityDo You Feel It?Great BoldnessProlific SeedsChained, but not BoundRoadblocksI Can Do Hard ThingsNot the Easy WayThe OpportunistHoly Ground on the StairwellUrgent Work
February
United with PurposeGod Gives the GrowthWhat about me?A Guilty Mom, a Gracious God, and the Road HomeDiscipline over DesireWhat is your thorn?What does love require of me?Comparison is a ThiefTrying to be holy in a distracted worldReplacementThe Joyful MessengerTwo Wrongs Don't Make a RightBut How Does It End?Holy Intentions, Human DistractionsLive a Worthy LifePray for MeBut is it true?On this DayWords that Build a Better WorldFor What Is True
March
2025
January
Paralysis of AnalysisA Daily CommitmentChild Like FaithThe Battle of the MindGPSSTOP. THINK. ACT. REVIEW.Let. It. Go.Choosing the Path of MercyQuick to Listen, Slow to SpeakPeacemakersBe Careful What You Wish ForRunYour Old Self Vs. The NewOn Not Loving the WorldLove One AnotherTreasure ChestsWho Sets the Bar?Be the You God Made You to BeTread a PathSo Much Better
February
Trust and ObeyA Pivotal MomentOh to Be the Mama of JesusA Fresh StartVictory or DefeatThe Edge of the CliffAuthorityHis Personal TouchForged by FaithSabbath - Setting You FreeHave You Prayed About It?Don't Build Your House on Sandy LandThe Centurion's FaithDon't Be OffendedWe All Need ItLighthouseIt's a Family ThingWhere the Ministry isHolding on by a Thread - and That's EnoughTraveling Essentials
Categories
Tags
no tags
No Comments