When Everyone Turns Against You

"And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”
—1 Samuel 30:6

Where do you turn when everyone turns against you? Where do you run? Who do you run to? David understood what it was like to have everyone turn against him. While leading a group of six hundred men in battle, their home city of Ziklag was raided by the Amalekites and burned to the ground. The Amalekites captured all of the women and children in the city, leaving nothing but a city in chars. Overwhelmed with grief, the men spoke of stoning David. With his family being held captive and facing the possibility of death from the hands of his own men, David turned to the only one who could truly help him in his time of need—the LORD his God.

David understood that God would be there for him at all times, and certainly now in his time of trouble,

“For He will hide me in His shelter
in the day of trouble;
He will conceal me under the cover of His tent;
He will lift me high upon a rock”
—Psalm 27:5.

And, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me”—Psalm 27:10. Since there is no record of David’s parents forsaking him, a more accurate and likely understanding is that if all of his most intimate relationships failed, he would still have access to God, who will defend and receive him.

David managed to recapture everything that was taken by the Amalekites and not one person was lost. But the record of the entire situation has been preserved for us so that we might understand where we are to turn in time of trouble. Whenever we feel that we can’t go on, or there are those who want to take our life, we must find our strength in the Lord our God and in Him alone.

Where is your strength? Where do you go when everyone is against you? Where do you turn whenever you feel forsaken and abandoned? Run to Jesus, He is…

“…our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling”
—Psalm 46:1-3.

Even if the earth gives way, God will be there for us. Even if everything in the created order is destroyed, God will not change in His love for you. Run to Him. Trust in Him. Find your strength in Him. He is the one who will never leave you, nor forsake you (Matthew 28:20), no matter what happens. Amen.