Category: Boot Camp for Creators & Dreamers

Basic Spiritual Training for Dreamers & Creators

David’s Divine Source of Encouragement (Boot Camp for Creators & Dreamers 20.2)

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Returning from battle to their home in Ziklag, David, and his men found the city deserted and in ruins. Their enemy the Amalekites had taken captive all the women and children before burning Ziklag to the ground. “David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.” (1 Samuel 30:4 ESV) They had lost their wives, and their sons and daughters. Their future seemed dim, their great dream lost in the ashes.

Israel’s future king realized he’d failed the men who had trusted and followed him across the desert into the land of their enemies. David’s men were disillusioned and in deep despair. Suffering an emotional meltdown, even David’s closest friends were “thinking of stoning him; each man grieved bitterly over his sons and daughters.” (1 Samuel 30:6 NET)

How many of us creators and dreamers can remember having a “Ziklag” moment, when it seems like all of one’s hopes and dreams have gone up in smoke — and that everything is lost? What does one do? The Bible states that, “David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6 AKJV)

Sounds good. But what exactly does this mean?

  • Simply that David ran into the loving arms of the merciful God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel — with whom the poet-warrior had developed a deep, personal relationship during the lonely days he’d spent in the fields tending his sheep. David did NOT flee from God in bitterness or blind hysterics, the way some people do when things go wrong. That’s what David was trying to explain, when he composed Psalm 23; the most beloved and well-known poem ever written; the Shepherd’s Psalm which continues to bring solace to new generations; a genuine source of encouragement for all creators and dreamers.
  • David also trusted God. He knew that Jehovah is faithful. Indeed, God had enabled David to slay the giant Goliath, to escape the murderous clutches of King Saul, and to survive — and even thrive — in the territory of his enemies, the Philistines.

So, when David faced his greatest challenge of all — his “Ziklag” — he reviewed his history with God, and knew his Lord would see him through. God would not abandon him nor forsake him. And David’s history lesson is one we need to learn: God is willing and able to see each of us through our own personal “Ziklag”s; He will not abandon us in our time of need. (Psalm 94:14)

To the contrary, God is always at the front line in every battle we face. And He’s already planning our victory celebration, which is why we can proclaim with David, “You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. …Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23:5-6 NLT)

God called David “a man after My own heart.” Not because David was “perfect” or super-spiritual, and certainly not because he never made mistakes. No, David made plenty of mistakes, but according to God, “he will do everything I want him to do.” (Acts 13:22 NLT) And one of the main things God wants us to do, is to rely totally on Him.

Stones for David’s slingshot.

That’s what faith is all about, “and without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6 NIV) David had unwavering faith in the face of overwhelming odds — which made him a “man after God’s own heart.” David’s faith also took him from the lowly position of shepherd to the highest office in the land.

David had discovered the keys to victory and success in this life and the life to come: whenever he “messed up,” whenever he was facing fearful obstacles and challenges, or suffered a crushing defeat — the “Ziklag”s of life — David immediately (1) consulted his Lord, by praying (talking) to God. And then? David simply (2) trusted his Lord to see him through.

Fellow dreamers and creators, when facing a “Ziklag” — a difficulty, a betrayal, a setback, a closed door, yet another rejection, or any major disappointment that leaves you feeling as though the bottom has dropped out beneath your world — cry out for help to your Heavenly Father. Do it immediately. Do it before you say or do anything else.

  • Get God’s perspective on the situation.
  • Seek God’s instruction on how to handle it.
  • Then have faith that He will see you through.

Actually, learn to do these things daily, as a matter of routine practice, no matter how great or small your problems seem. God cares about it all. Remember, relying on Him makes our Lord happy. (Refer back to Boot Camp sessions 5 through 7 — because these truths are vital to success in life and the pursuit of dreams.)

To “encourage oneself in the Lord” also means: Being willing to stand alone, without human help or encouragement. (Discussed in Boot Camp 14.5) Face it, sometimes the people closest to us, our immediate family, our best friends, even those who previously stuck by us through thick and thin (the way David’s “Mighty Men of Valor” had previously stuck by him) may abandon you when you encounter your “Ziklag”!

There’s truth to the old saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” — often leaving us alone on life’s battlefields. In regards to our goals and dreams, disappointments, betrayals, and a general lack of support are all part of the territory. Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, people will refuse to help you. Sometimes they’re just too busy. Sometimes they get caught up in their own world. And sometimes, they actually want to be there for you, but they can’t, due to circumstances beyond their control (such as illness or a family obligation).

Still, whatever the reasons, there will be times when the people you were counting on the most, aren’t there for you; when you must face your problems alone; when there’s absolutely no one to support you except your Lord. You may cry out for help, but even your loved ones may fail to hear your cries, because they’re preoccupied; or, then again, they may simply turn a deaf ear to your needs.

It’s possible that these “silent” people won’t even have an encouraging word for you. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. Too bad.

Depressing? Yes, and that’s what can make a “Ziklag” so devastating. The good news is, our Heavenly Father always hears our cries. He’s never too busy for us, and He promises, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NLT)

Facing a tough situation? Follow David’s example: Ask God for help, and make the same positive confession he made: “I _________ (insert your name) encourage myself in You, Lord; I find my strength in You, my God.” (1 Samuel 30:6) You’ll soon learn — for those times when your circumstances appear bleak, or when people let you down — that you can stand alone when you must (but always WITH God by your side). You’ll have victory over every “Ziklag” you encounter in life, along the road to fulfilling your dreams!

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Stay Encouraged (Boot Camp for Creators & Dreamers 20)

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We can’t state this enough: we creators and dreamers need to stay encouraged. If we fail to do so, the odds of realizing our hopes and aspirations will be stacked against us. Chances are, if we lack encouragement, we’ll give up on the bright future God has planned for each of us.

But staying encouraged isn’t easy. Actually, it’s downright difficult. The long, winding path that leads to our goals and aspirations is often littered with obstacles and pitfalls; life has a way of throwing us a curve when we least expect it; and sometimes, our good intentions and best efforts can end in complete failure and utter disaster. At times like these, it can feel as though your whole world has crumbled around you.

Israel’s first true king, the poet and warrior David, faced just such a crisis, when it felt as though the ground had collapsed beneath his feet. What kept the Psalmist from toppling headlong into the pit of despair? Read on.

Close to a thousand years before the Lord Jesus Christ walked the earth in the form of a man, God anointed the Shepard David to be the King of His people Israel. But a big obstacle remained between David and the throne: a pain in David’s neck, whose name was Saul.

Saul had been chosen — not by God, but by the Hebrews — to be the king of the Jews. This might have worked out if Saul hadn’t disobeyed God’s will in a few key areas (and afterwards made up some really lame excuses for his disobedience).

God ultimately rejected Saul’s kingship, and chose David to replace him. Saul, however, wasn’t ready to step down, so he devoted all his time and energy to chasing David across the desert, in the hopes of capturing his successor — and executing him! (Life can be complicated.)

David was already an accomplished leader and warrior. He could have easily met Saul in battle and ended all his problems. But David didn’t want to kill the people’s “King”; so instead, he simply continued to elude Saul.

Just hanging out in the wilderness and trying to stay out of Saul’s way.

At one point, though, David grew tired of running. He and his army of 600 men, along with their families, sought refuge in the land of King Saul’s enemies, the Philistines. It was a good idea: Saul soon lost interest in David, believing he’d never again see his rival; and David found favor with a Philistine leader named Achish.

Achish gave David and his men the city of Ziklag, where they could live in peace and raise their families. Who knows, they might have remained their, had Achish not given David an ultimatum. For over a year David maintained the appearance that he was serving the interests of the Philistines, by defeating several of the tribes that opposed them. But these warring tribes also opposed the Hebrews — so defeating them was actually in the best interests of God’s people.

David’s exploits on the battlefield are legendary. Here  he defeats Goliath.

Again, David was enjoying the best of both worlds, until Achish announced that the Philistines were about to attack King Saul and Israel; and he expected David and his men to join him in the battle — against David’s own people.

David probably broke out in a cold sweat. The time had come to “either put up or shut up,” and it looked as though he was going to be forced into a battle against his own people. Fortunately for David, Achish’s military leaders didn’t trust the allegiance of their Hebrew Ally. (Apparently at least some of the Philistines had discernment.)

David was ordered to take his army and go home to Ziklag. They would NOT be fighting in this battle. David was filled with relief, joy, and probably the satisfaction of having pulled a fast one on Achish. And then the bottom fell out of his world.

Ziklag today: all that remains.

When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found the city deserted and in ruins. While they were away, the Amalekites (who hated the Philistines, the Hebrews, and just about everybody else) had taken captive all the women and children before burning the city to the ground.

The Bible states that in unison this band of tough, seasoned warriors suffered an emotional meltdown: “David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.” (1 Samuel 30:4 ESV) They were strangers in a strange land, cut off from the greater part of their people, and now they’d lost everything they had, their wives, their sons and daughters, even their homes.

David’s grief was manifold. He, too, was suffering, having lost not one but two wives; but he also realized he’d failed the men who’d trusted him, who’d followed him across the desert into the land of their enemies. David’s men were disillusioned and in deep despair. Their future seemed dim, and their great cause lost and buried in the ashes of Ziklag.

As if this were not enough, David then faced yet another devastating blow. The mighty men who had always trusted him, whom he had always relied upon, were ready to turn against him: “the men were thinking of stoning him; each man grieved bitterly over his sons and daughters.” (1 Samuel 30:6 NET)

Sooner or later we all face situations similar to what happened at Ziklag. Our “Ziklag”s may come in the form of demoralizing disappointments, setbacks, or false starts; unexpected obstacles, opposition, or challenges in life, particularly in the pursuit of our dreams. How do we endure our Ziklags? Well, what did David do?

“David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved … but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. (1 Samuel 30:6 AKJV)

The word encourage means to give support, hope, confidence. David gave himself these things. He found in God what was necessary to keep from falling apart, to keep going and not give up. Other translations correctly render the word “encouraged” as strengthened: “David was very upset, for the men were thinking of stoning him; each man grieved bitterly over his sons and daughters. But David drew strength from the LORD his God.” (1 Samuel 30:6 NET)

We can learn from David’s example. What do we do when even our closest friends and relatives, our loved ones, abandon us and tell us to give up on our hopes and dreams?

What do we do when we get yet another rejection; another “No!”; another door slammed in our faces? When we think we’ve finally found the right person or door of opportunity, or taken the right steps in the pursuit of a dream — only to learn later, after expending considerable time, energy, resources, and prayer, that we’ve reached just another dead end?

Do we throw in the towel and walk away in disgust? Or, worse, do we sink into depression?

When we face our “Ziklag,” we sincerely hope that instead of giving up, we can stay encouraged, finding strength and courage in the Lord — just as David did! And speaking of David — the giant killer — what ever happened to the poor fellow? Did his men stone him? Did he flee? Did he find another wife? Did he get angry at God? Will we ever know? Of course we will!

Join us next session for David’s Daring Decision.

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