Some of David's darkest days came after some of his greatest victories. For example, just after slaying Goliath, he became the most famous and the most admired hero in all of Israel.
Immediately after slaying Goliath, the people began to sing the praises of David. His name was heard throughout the land. Every city, every village, every town knew about it. But not everyone was excited about David's victory, particularly King Saul.
In fact, it enraged him because they used to sing about King Saul but now they've got a new hero. "Saul slayed his thousand, but David his ten thousand," was their new song. Saul was not impressed with David's newfound popularity and he set out to kill him.
After David's greatest victory, he was now reduced to hiding in a cave and being hunted by a mad man. Psalm 13 tells us exactly what David was feeling while hiding from Saul. "How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? forever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?" Doesn't this sound like the words to a good country and western song?
Verses 2-4 says,
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death; Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.Have you had those thoughts? But watch how David encourages himself in verses 5 and 6: But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
He starts out on a sad note, and expresss to God what's going on in his heart. He feels despondent, alone and wondering, "Why is this happening to me? All I did was slay a giant that was defying the armies of God. Why am I going through this?" This reveals his feelings of being overwhelmed by his trials and his adversities. In other words, "When is this going to be over?"
No More Sleepless Nights
When you need a breakthrough and your mind is constantly trying to figure a way out, it causes sleepless nights. You toss and turn and your mind won't shut down. This problem has consumed your mind all day and now it's ruining your night too.
Psalm 4 reminds us that the people in the Bible were people just like you and me. They experienced the same pain, the same trouble, the same feelings of hopelessness, the same sleepless nights that you and I have.
Psalm 4:1, 8 (Amplified) says,
...You have freed me when I was hemmed in and enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me and hear my prayer. ...I will both lie down and sleep for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.There's your remedy for sleep. God came through for them and He can and will come through for you. Faith in God is still the answer to overcoming all of life's confrontations.
David declared that his troubles and his challenges caused him to feel hemmed in. Hemmed in, as the Amplified says, would indicate that his mind was being tormented with negative thoughts of heaviness, oppression and hopelessness. When you feel hemmed in and trapped, it looks like there's no way out.
You feel like no one else understands what you're going through. When you're hemmed in, the torment of never being delivered, or never having help plagues you. You go to bed with the thought, "How long, O Lord?" You wake up with the thought, "Will this ever pass?" All day you wonder, "God, where are you?"
Verse 8 says, "...I will both lie down and sleep for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust."
Do you know what this indicates? That he has truly and finally cast the care of all this over into the hands of the One who is more qualified to handle it than he is. Why stay up all night? God's going to be up anyway so let Him figure it out while you sleep.
Pass Through your Problem
One of the most important keys to experiencing a breakthrough is to face your problem. You can't ignore it. You can't pretend that it doesn't exist. Some people just don't like confrontation. It's just easier to run away and go somewhere else and play like it doesn't exist.
But that is never the solution to overcoming adversity. You have to face it head on with the Word of God in your mouth, faith in your heart and a determination that you will overcome.
Breakthroughs never come to people who run from their challenges. Problems don't just go away by ignoring them. They have to be confronted.
Psalm 84:5-6 says, "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools."
In the literal Hebrew, the valley of Baca means "The valley of tears, the valley of pain, the valley of torment, the valley of struggles." In other words, it's any place in your life that brings tears, discouragement and despondency.
What you go through financially could be called the valley of Baca. Family problems, the valley of Baca. Marital problems, the valley of Baca. If it has got you up all night, and it's bringing tears and sorrow and grief, then it is the valley of Baca.
Notice it says, passing through the valley of Baca. It didn't say, "Take up residence there." God never intended for you and I to live in the valley of Baca. He intends for us to pass through. You're going to go through many valleys of Baca in your lifetime, but God never intended for you to set up residence there - pass through.
Those who pass through with a proper attitude come out on the other side stronger. In fact, the Amplified says, "They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power]." In other words, when you face your challenge head on with the same kind of hope and the expectancy of a divine intervention that David talks about, and with a proper attitude, then you're going to come out on the other side of this place stronger and increased in victorious power.
Whatever you're going through right now, just remember: you're going through! Next time you say, "I'm going through..." say it with a smile.
Many times the reason our breakthrough is prolonged is because we have not truly cast the care of it over onto the Lord. As long as you stay up all night worrying about it, you still have the care. Don't ever forget that God has everything under control.
Don't try to go around, go under or go over your problems today. Go through them with the Word of God knowing that you're not alone. You're not hopeless. God is on your side.
Don't allow Satan to convince you that there's no hope. When the devil starts telling you "No way," that's a good sign The Way is about to show up!
I don't know what you may be facing right now, but I do know that this is the year for breakthrough and turnaround. When is this going to be over? When you dare believe it, confess it and declare it in your life. You'll be just like David, singing about the goodness of God.
Don't give in to this challenge in your life. Attack it with the Word of God coming out of your mouth and anticipate God's divine intervention!
All rights reserved. Used by permission.