What To Do When Your Back Is Against The Wall

1 Samuel 30:6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.


greatly -with force
distressed
to bind, be distressed, be in distress, be cramped, be narrow, be scant, be in straits, make narrow, cause distress, besiege

found strength
Outline of Biblical Usage:
to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore, grow strong, be secure
to press, be urgent, to grow stout, grow rigid, to be severe, be grievous
to restore to strength, sustain, encourage, make bold, encourage, to support
to repair, to have or take or keep hold of, retain, to hold, contain, to withstand
to hold strongly with



Last week we looked at David's failure of faith. This morning we look at his faith and spirit restored. It came through a horrible trial. Different than we think, isn't it? We think God if You will display your power people will believe, those who had believed will put their hope back in You. Oft times it is excruciating pain that the LORD works through, when we turn to Him for help.

It is always interesting to me how a crisis can bring us back to our spiritual senses. This time it was kidnapping and a death threat by his own men! This seemed to wake David up for the need of prayer. Even in depression a crisis can help shake us out.

The turn of events here is incredible!
David was being trained in what it means to be a leader in God's kingdom. His heart was being broken to the point where he realized all he had was God!

I love that phrase, "All he had was God." That is the biggest understatement one can make! If you have Him you have everything! If you do not have Him you have nothing!

I am thankful for those times of need in my life when the LORD shows me All I have is Him. Who do I have in heaven but You? They usually are far from pleasant times but they do put life and eternal life into perspective. Those moments when all human help fails ad when your back is against the wall can be times of wonderful fellowship with Jesus, the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings! (Philippians 3.10-12)

So what do you do if your back is against the wall?
Perhaps it is a relationship, or a financial setback, maybe a threat or when people are disappointed in you to a point of bringing you to despair. Maybe it is in over commitment or a wrong commitment. It can be from exhaustion or where the floods have come in to trapping you. It can be in people opposing you from doing God's will. You may be exhausted from weeping like David and his men were.
There are a number of situations where you can have this feeling or it can be described as having your back against the wall. No where to turn.

First...
1. Do Not Look for Human Help
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources...

David had learned his lesson. No more reliance on human help.
Psalm 60:11 Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.
Human help is unreliable.
Human help is severely limited.
Human help is sometimes fickle.
Human help is not always available. No one works 24-7

Those who depend on human help are always ultimately disappointed. We expect too much from people if we expect them to come through for us all the time. We all fall short. No One understands like Jesus.

We are not to be isolationists! But there are times when we must stand alone, all alone.
2 Timothy 4:16-18 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

When our back is against the wall we often have to keep our mouths shut. We have to look to the LORD only.

David remembered the LORD in the time of his affliction. He didn't allow the negative comments and the criticisms or even the possibility of being stoned to pull him into despair. He found strength in the LORD! We need to do the same.

The next thing follows naturally... If we aren't going to get human help we must

2. Pray
David sought out Abitthiar the Priest. He had him bring the ephod. David was talking to heaven. He was inquiring of God.
First I believe he praised Him! Look at the Psalms. In the midst of disaster he give thanks. Psalm 57

He prayed. Had he done this before he could have avoided this whole nasty chapter. He thought to himself... now he understood where that got him!
We are like that at times. We learn our lessons the hard way.

If David had prayed silently rather than thinking to himself:
One day Saul is going to get me
The best I can do is...
Our best is nit worth comparing with God's!

Oh what needless pain we bear all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!


3. Find out what God's Will is. v.7
Ask the LORD outright.
Come boldly.
Expect an answer.


4. Let Him Strengthen You v.8
He will.
Waiting is the key.
Isaiah 40.31
Psalm 27.14

The circumstances had not changed but the Word he received from the LORD changed him! That is often who God wants to change... you, your heart.
David's heart had peace. God was giving him strength.

Far too often God is wanting to bless us and we are like Jacob, wrestling with the LORD, fighting His will. Let Him do the work within you. Surrender the urgent and "must have" to Him and His will.

In the Day of Distress, when your back is against the wall, encourage yourself in the LORD!

All is well in the heart of the one who has the Word of the LORD.
Do not let your heart be troubled.
Wait for the LORD.
He will strengthen you.
He will be will you.



5. Get Back in the Battle to Win! vs.16-20

David recovered ever thing and everyone.

Then he shared the spoils!

We are more than conquerors!

Let's go!!!