Not as bad as Ziklag

Last night I couldn't sleep well, 1) because I was afraid I would miss Matt's phone call and 2) it was so lonely...even with 3 kids in the bed. LOL.  God kept bring to my mind a story from the Bible that many preachers preach about and this is a favorite of mine....The story of David coming home to Ziklag and finding everything and everyone gone.

The Message Version (great for story telling)

1 -3 Three days later, David and his men arrived back in Ziklag. Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They tore Ziklag to pieces and then burned it down. They captured all the women, young and old. They didn't kill anyone, but drove them like a herd of cattle. By the time David and his men entered the village, it had been burned to the ground, and their wives, sons, and daughters all taken prisoner.

4 -6 David and his men burst out in loud wails—wept and wept until they were exhausted with weeping. David's two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail widow of Nabal of Carmel, had been taken prisoner along with the rest. And suddenly David was in even worse trouble. There was talk among the men, bitter over the loss of their families, of stoning him. David strengthened himself with trust in his God.

(Credit is given to http://www.elite-view.com/ for the above image)

I have heard it a thousand times about how DAVID was upset, how DAVID sought God, how DAVID prayed, and how DAVID pursued and won taking back everything that was stolen.  But last night I was impressed by this story... what about the women and children?!
 
They were the ones attacked and taken captive. They watched their city and homes destroyed. They were the ones fearing for their lives and the children. Could you imagine being a part of the women and children who were taken?
 
The Bible speaks that David strengthened himself in God. Of course, there are always nay-sayers but I felt very impressed that some women were strengthening themselves in God and trusting God for their safety.
 
David had NO idea what had happened to his family or where they were, but he was strengthened in God. He cried until he could cry no more.
 
--Matt know where we are and where we are going to be. Matt also has the assurance that we have a security alarm and an overprotective dog. We are not taken captive, but we are safe in the home he provided.
 
--It is in GOD where we both will draw our strength. It is in GOD where we will find direction. It is in GOD where we will place our trust. This doesn't mean it will be easy. No battle has ever been won without the use of strength and force. No growth has happened without stretching and strengthing.
 
It is in God where strength comes from.