He strengthened himself in the LORD
David at Ziklag
David reached the lowest point of his fugitive years at Ziklag. The town was burned, the families taken captive, and his own loyal men, in their grief, spoke of stoning him. He had no ally, no comfort, no one to encourage him — distressed and alone at the bottom. And then the pivotal line: but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. With every external source of strength gone, he found an internal one in God.
This is the deepest reservoir of endurance. There are moments in leadership when everything external that might encourage you is stripped away — the support gone, the team turned, the situation in ruins. In those moments, the leader who has only external sources of strength collapses. The one who has learned, like David, to strengthen himself in the LORD has a source that remains when all others fail. It is a discipline: turning to God for strength when no human encouragement is available.
“Though the fig tree doesn't flourish... yet I will rejoice in the LORD. I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.”
— Habakkuk, rejoicing when all fails — Habakkuk 3:17-18 (WEB)
The deepest reservoir of endurance is strengthening yourself in God when every external source is gone. The leader with only outward strength collapses; the one anchored in God endures.
“David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him... but David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.”
David, with no comfort left, strengthened himself in the LORD. A leader formed here cultivates an inner source that remains when all others fail. The inner work is the discipline of turning to God for strength when no human encouragement comes.
When support is stripped away, deliberately strengthen yourself in God rather than collapsing. Build this reservoir before you need it. Lead from a source that does not depend on circumstances or applause.
Leaders rely on external encouragement and have no reservoir when it disappears. The blind spot is never learning to strengthen oneself in God until the bottom arrives.
Practice strengthening yourself in God this week, before a crisis — so the reservoir is there when external support is gone.
There are moments when everything external that might encourage you is stripped away — support gone, team turned, situation in ruins. The leader with only external strength collapses; David strengthened himself in the LORD.
When everything that usually holds you up is gone, do you know how to strengthen yourself in God?