Encourage Yourself In The LordSample

Unexpected Tragedy

Have you ever been in a place where all was well—it wasn’t perfect—but it was manageable and then suddenly, tragedy hits? I have had quite a few of those experiences in my lifetime, and in my earlier years unexpected tragedies would shatter my mind, will, and emotions. I would find myself in a deep depression, and I would even isolate myself from others because I just felt like God was not there, and he didn’t seem to care about me. I know, it sounds over dramatic, but I use to be that way. As I continue to walk with the Lord, I have realized that tragedies are inevitable if we are on this earth and the enemy will never give up trying to depress us because that is just who he is. I have learned over time not to live in an expectation of tragedy but also not to be ignorant of the fact that it will happen and when it does, it need not be the end of me. 

Just like the natural treasures of this world such as silver, gold, diamonds and other precious stones are hidden beneath dirt, mud, and coal, so also, deep within you are buried so many magnificent treasures. To get the precious metal and stones that are worth millions, it has to go through a rigorous, pressured process for its real value and beauty to show forth. And most times the tragedies of life help bring out the treasures within us.

King David was very familiar with unexpected tragedies, Even though he was anointed to be the king over Israel in his teens, it would be a long road before he would sit on his throne. Saul, who was the king at the time, tried for many years to kill David, and after the prophet Samuel died, David had to flee for his life. He lived life on the run with his army of about six hundred men and their families. David eventually negotiated a place for himself and his men with the Philistine king named Achish- (1 Samuel 27:5 – 6). While life was not perfect for David and his men, it was manageable despite being on the run. At least he was not on the run alone – that’s encouraging! The name of the place David camped was called Ziklag, why is this important? According to Abraim Publications’ online Biblical Hebrew Dictionary, “Scholars have identified two separate roots of the form  צוק (swq), one of which describes the exertion of pressure upon something, whereas the other means to pour out or melt (metals).” And “The verb צוק (suq II) also denotes the bringing forth of something contained internally, which is done either by applying pressure or by smelting.” David and his men came home one day to find everything they owned burned to the ground, and their loved ones are taken into captivity.

Ziklag was the place of unexpected tragedy for David; it was his place of pressing so that what was contained within him could flow out. On the day of an unexpected tragedy in Ziklag, David would have to choose – would he become hopeless and give up or would he encourage himself in the Lord? 

“It often takes a tragedy to open our hearts, minds, and wills to the truth of God’s word” – Billy Graham