1 Samuel 29-31

We all come to points in our lives when all that we depended on is taken from us and we are left utterly hopeless. We may wonder why God allows such times to enter our lives. I think they are times of testing in order to strengthen our faith and dependence upon God. In 1 Samuel 30 David went up with his men to fight WITH the Philistines against Israel. But God moved the Philistine leaders to reject David and send him home. At the same time David was ordered to go home Amalekite raiders were capturing the people and animals of Ziklag, David's hide out. David returned to his home in rejection only to find it empty and destroyed. The men with David turned their anger upon each other, especially David. David gave his anger over to God. In doing so God strengthened him (1 Sam 30:6). As God pulled him up out of despair David turned to God for direction. Because of his faith in God David's request for guidance, and eventually deliverance, was provided.
Stuart