As we continue our series on wisdom, today we focus on how wisdom equips us to confront and overcome disappointment and discouragement. Disappointment often stems from unmet expectations, leaving us disheartened and feeling unfulfilled, because “hope deferred makes the heart sick” (Proverbs 13:12). Such moments are fertile ground for the enemy to sow doubt in an attempt to weaken our faith and stop us from believing God for greater things. However, godly wisdom enables us to recognise this strategy and respond in accordance with the Word. As we continuously meditate on God’s Word (Joshua 1:8), it renews our minds and strengthens our convictions, enabling us to stand firm and not be shaken, knowing that all things are working together for our good (Romans 8:28).
The story of David at Ziklag in 1 Samuel 30 illustrates how the Word equips us to manage our soul and keep it in a perpetual state of worship (Psalm 103), rather than drowning in discouragement. Upon returning to the camp, David and his men discovered that it was raided and burned to ashes by the Amalekites; women and children, young and old, were taken captive (vs.1-3). Overwhelmed with grief, they “lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep” (vs.4). Yet none of the captives were harmed or killed, a testament to God’s preserving hand even in adversity. Saints, wisdom teaches us to see God’s hand in every situation, and this perspective guards our hearts against despair, so that our response is always from a point of faith and hope. Satan wants us to focus on our struggles and magnify them until we feel overwhelmed, but God’s Word gives us the wisdom to manage our soul, knowing that victory is ours.
We read further that despite his distress, “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (vs.6). Church, encouragement will not always come from others; we must learn to draw strength from our relationship with God. For this very reason, Jude 1:20–21 instructs us to build ourselves up in our most holy faith by praying in the Holy Ghost and keeping ourselves in the love of God. We must never drift away from Him, but allow His Word to remind us that He is faithful and has empowered us to overcome. 1 Corinthians 10:13 reminds us: “no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Even Christ faced temptation, yet remained without sin, and is able to help us overcome those temptations (Hebrews 2:15-18). And it is crucial to remember that while God provides a way of escape, the temptation does not come from Him (James 1:13-15), because God is good and He cannot deny Himself.
After encouraging himself, David sought the Lord’s guidance using the ephod, the same way God’s Word is to us a way to get wisdom and direction in which way we should go (Isaiah 30:21). He asked, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” and God answered, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all” (1 Samuel 30:8). Saints, we must always turn to the Word of God, even in times of adversity and distress, for in it we find strength and divine strategy. Acting on this Word, David pursued with a reduced force of troops, trusting and standing on the word of the Lord despite the odds. Church, let us adopt the same mindset, being resolute and waging war with the words of prophecy spoken concerning us (1 Timothy 1:18); no retreat, no surrender. Along the way, they encountered an abandoned Egyptian servant who provided crucial information about the enemy’s location (1 Samuel 20:11-16). This shows us how God orchestrates unexpected help and resources for our victory when we step out in faith. David and his men ultimately defeated the Amalekites, recovering all that was taken, and gaining additional spoils (vs.17-20). Church, let us learn from the prodigal son, who had abandoned wisdom in pursuit of godless pleasures, but “came to himself” (Luke 15:17), and was fully embraced by his father. The same is true for us, God has given us wisdom to overcome trials and disappointment, and should we ever fall, He is ready to restore us.
Prayer
Lord, grant us the wisdom to recognise the enemy’s tactics when disappointment comes. Teach us to see Your hand even in hardship and strengthen us to encourage ourselves in Your Truth. We choose to rely on Your Word for direction, trusting that You will lead us to overtake, recover all, and walk in victory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
