"Do you ever feel downhearted or discouraged? Do you ever think your work is all in vain? Do the burdens thrust upon you make you tremble? And you fear that you shall ne'er the victory gain?"
Well, it is fairly certain that you occasionally do! Discouragement is a very common ailment. Perhaps you have a spirit kindred to Elijah who felt all alone in his struggles (1 Kings 19:8). There was a time in David's life when he reached the point of despair, but he came out of it. How was he able to overcome his discouragement? Notice the antidote David applied to his life: "And David was greatly distressed...but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God" (1 Sam. 30:6). What can be gained from the context of this passage that will help us overcome discouragement?
Get alone in the PRESENCE of God. David did that as he "enquired at the Lord" (1 Sam. 30:8). This is the first step we must take if we are to cast off discouragement. Get into the presence of the Lord and tell Him everything. "Casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He careth for you (1 Pet. 5:7). There is wonderful relief and release even in the process of telling Him of our discouragement.
Seek the fellowship of the PEOPLE of God. David went to Abiathar the priest (1 Sam. 30:7). There is great value in sharing our joys, sorrows, and discouragements with others who are likeminded. If you are discouraged, try encouraging someone else and it will help make your own discouragement disappear.
Lean hard upon the PROMISES of God. David depended upon God in this dark moment. Notice the words, "thou shalt surely...without fail" (1 Sam. 30:8). There are many promises which God has made to us, and they are all "yea" and "amen" in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 1:20) - not one of them has ever failed, nor will one of them ever fail (Mark 13:31)! Is there anything, anywhere that will more quickly banish discouragement than God's wonderful promises?
Remember the PROVIDENCE of God. Although David was passing through a time of upheaval, loss, distress, and discouragement, God was silently planning in love for Him (read 1 Sam. 30:11-16). We must never forget Jehovah's ability to make "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28).