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"ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD." "And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." (1 Samuel 30:6)"...but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." How encouraging it is to be encouraged in the LORD our God.We read in this chapter where David and his men arrived home to discover the army of Amalek had burned the city and had taken their wives and children captive (vs. 1-3). They wept until they could weep no more (v.4)The loss was overwhelming. In their grief and frustration, the men blamed David and spoke of stoning him, "but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." (v.6) Under God’s direction, David then led a victorious march against the Amalekites and recovered their wives and children without a single loss (v.18).You may have waited for someone to come and encourage you in your night of trouble, but no one came. So, you then ask yourself, "How can I encourage myself?”First, know that God is still on the Throne and He is your God. There was no friend at hand to encourage David. His own men had turned against him. But when it appeared everything was lost, he turned to God for his help. He saw God as his God. He did not consider God to be at such a distance that He would not come to his rescue. How about you right now? Do you sense that God is afar off? Folks, know that He surely is at hand (Jeremiah 23:23).Second, remember that daybreak is just ahead. David and his men experienced the anguish of believing their families probably had been killed, but, after "David enquired of the LORD." they were all recovered safely (vs.18-19). There's an old saying that goes, "The darkest time of the night is just before dawn.” And folks, your night may seem darker than dark right now, but, after 'You enquire of the LORD,' the dawning of a brighter day will soon be breaking for you too!Third, we can encourage ourselves in the Lord by realizing that our trials always involve the will of God (1 Peter 4:19). To be sure, the trials themselves are often disruptive, disturbing and distasteful. Oh, but at the end of the trail we'll find, as David did, the greater good and the lessons of life our Saviour wants to teach us.Friends, the great lesson we need to be encouraged about is this: The more we realize our weaknesses, the more we are to encourage ourselves in the LORD our God.