TRY THE UPLOOK

If the outlook is bleak, try the uplook! Here's a story to prove this true. King David and his army had been away from home for 16 months and now they were marching back on Cloud 9 looking forward to family re-unions and home cooking! [ See 1 Samuel 30 especially verse 6 ]

As they reached the brow of the final hill a pall of smoke confirmed their worst fears. Their village had been torched by terrorists! David's loyal troops were so traumatised that they became irrational and spoke about stoning their beloved captain! How often in times of stress do we take it out on those who are nearest and dearest to us?

The outlook was certainly bleak. There was not a friend on earth to help David so he looked heavenward and "Encouraged himself in the Lord his God." Let's not forget that it was David who wrote, "The Lord is my shepherd." [ Psalm 23 ]. Now he was to prove this true. David encouraged himself in 4 ways and these provide helpful hints for us if our world is falling apart.

1. He remembered how God had helped him in the past.

2. He looked for signs of God's providence. In this case he realised He had restrained the terrorists because there were no corpses [verse 2] therefore their families must still be alive somewhere.

3. He brought the whole matter to God in prayer [verse 8]. This led him to pursue the enemy. But on the way they came across a sick man lying on the ground.

4. David and his men now forgot their own problems. They stopped to give food and drink to this needy man who turned out to be the very one who could lead them to their families and so end their trauma!

Don't panic! Try the uplook! Apply these four principles.