Topic: Marred by Failure

Text: 1 Samuel 30:1-6

Key verse: David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.

David had experienced a lot of emotional pain from all kinds of circumstances but he had never experienced failure at protecting what was in his care. We are introduced to David at the time of his first anointing in his Father’s house, as a Shepherd boy who kept the family sheep while his older brothers stayed back at home. Why the youngest in the family was the one in the wild could only be because he was capable, competent and successful at taking care of the sheep.

We meet David again as a young man ready to defend the people of God against a Philistine, when warriors were hiding. He gives King Saul a brief biography of himself, stating the wild animals he had single handedly killed because they came after his sheep. He had always kept his own until now.

David and his men wept until they had no more strength to weep, the loss was huge, wives, children, all valuable possessions and what was left of their homes was completely burnt down. When things go wrong in life, many questions arise, Why? Who? What? Sometimes you have answers at other times there are none. David failed in his own backyard. 

At this time in David’s life, there were too many issues, he had no job, his life was under threat from his former employer, he even had to run to the camp of the enemy to hide, just to survive a few more days.While all these was happening David had a prophetic word hanging over his head. A word given by a prophet of repute,that he was God’s anointed to rule.

Living with contradictions is a tough place to be, you know God has a plan but you can’t see it, you know God has promised but your reality is contrary. Even worse is losing a game in your own backyard, losing a battle in your Field of expertise! This kind of failure that leaves you marred for life can be likened to a doctor losing his own family member to a condition in his field of specialization. What do you call that kind of shame you have when as a teacher in high school, your child is the only one that failed the course you teach in an external examination. It makes you cry till there are no more tears.

Whatever the failure, there is always hope if you remember you are still in the Potter’s hand.The secret to living the life of an overcomer is not who or what you have , rather what you know. Truth is empowering, enlightening and liberating.

Knowing you are still in his hand no matter what happens to you in life helps you find a balance.  Everything may fade away, friends may turn their backs on you , employees may walk away and go work for your competitors, but God has you in his hand! But David found strength in the Lord his God. Where does you strength come from in times of distress? Who do you call first?

You cannot call someone in an emergency who you have not established a relationship with earlier. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed

Call on the Lord, no matter how bad the case may be, he is the Master of the Universe!

David inquired of the Lord and received assurance to purse his enemies, and recover back all he had lost. Not all failures need to be pursued. Not all losses need to be investigated, until you have direction from the Lord to do so.

Remember, they wept till they had no more strength, but when the word of the Lord came, they found strength to pursue. Not everyone will always pursue with you, don’t call it an offence. When money finishes, some people cannot cope, if they leave you to pursue alone, don’t be bitter. Bitterness will drain you of the much needed energy and spiritual insight you need for this season.

David got back everything the Amalekites had taken, and he rescued his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing: small or great, son or daughter, nor anything else that had been taken. David brought everything back. 20 He also recovered all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock. “This plunder belongs to David!” they said.

You will recover from every failure in Jesus name! Your comeback will be a showoff in Jesus name! Don’t be overwhelmed by your loss, as long as God lives, and you are in his hands, He has the final word! He says…

For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland – Isaiah 43:19

Turn to the Lord right now, lift up your eyes to him, tell him how you really feel about all that has happened. If you are alone, its okay to cry about your loss, that is  the first step to your healing. Failure causes shame, don’t pretend it didn’t happen, cry if you feel like doing so. Bottled up emotions hurt you more!  The second step is to take your steps to the Cross, it’s empty but that was were the price was paid. There’s a pain taker there, give him the pain you feel ,all of it.

Now, forgive all those who made it happen, even those who helped them. You need the forgiveness clearance to get to the next level. Ask God what to do next. Your testimony is next in line. David came out of this experience a better leader. Don\’t waste your pain, learn from it for your next level.

Blessings to you and all you do!

Roses&Thorns