Finding strength in God

I Samuel 30:6b …each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.  But David found strength in the Lord his God.

All of David’s men, including himself, had suffered a severe blow because the Philistines had come to their town in their absence and kidnapped all the women and children.  It is only natural that the men were suffering emotionally.  But the contrast between David and his men is startling – as they were bitter and ready to take it out on David (see v.6a), this verse tells us that David had a totally opposite response to his distress.  He looked for, and found, strength in the Lord.  As a result, he was able to lead his men in a raid to get their loved ones back.  What would have happened otherwise?  Guessing from what we know from these verses, David would have been dead from stoning and without his leadership the men would have also been still without their wives and children.  It pays to turn to the Lord for strength in the midst of distress!