1 Samuel 30:1-6 (NKJV)

Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

This passage finds David and his men standing in a city of ruins. Not only is David an outcast of King Saul, he has just been rejected by the Philistine King, Achish. The fear and trauma David and his men are experiencing as they enter Ziklag is astounding. There is no sound of adult voices speaking. No children’s laughter. No sound of pots clanking as the evening meal is being prepared. Instead, they hear only the sound of wood cracking as the city burns. There is no human presence left in the city. David’s men speak of stoning him. Two of his wives have been taken. He’s stuck between kings, between armies—between pain and loyalty, hatred and distrust, love and hurt. David is enduring more than any man should.

Yet, verse 6 reads, “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” He finds enough internal spiritual strength to encourage himself. He knows that in order to speak to his men who are also enduring great pain, he must first speak to his own hurting condition. So, as he sees the smoke rising—his eyes clouded from standing in burning rubble—he hears God telling him that he is not alone, that God is still watching over him. This empowering exchange David has with God makes David reassess his spiritual convictions. He remembers that God is his light, defense, shepherd, provider, and sustainer. David realizes he is hurt, but not forsaken. In this moment, time stands still for David. Instead of hearing the men around him plotting to kill him, he hones in on the internal voice of God. Instead of sinking, David gets stronger and his soul is refreshed.

I feel David’s pain in this passage. I’m sure you do, too. Most of you probably have felt stuck like David felt stuck. Maybe you’re living in the consequences of a decision you thought was best. Now the spiritual, emotional, and physical comfort you felt is gone and you feel stuck. Stuck is a lonely place. But David’s story teaches us that God never intends for a stuck place to be a permanent place. You might have to endure a stuck season, but that doesn’t mean you need to endure a stuck destiny. It might be a day, a week, a year, a circumstance—but it will not last because God walks with you. We just have to find the strength to keep on walking with Him.

Philippians 2:13 states: “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (NKJV). God may be working for you, but you have to find the strength to work too. Even if you can’t find strength in your relationships with anyone else, find strength in your relationship with God. Preach this to yourself when you are feeling stuck: I believe God is still at work. That is how you get unstuck. Believe that no matter what, God is still working and that nothing can stop His work in your life. You haven’t gone through anything that God hasn’t planned and put a blessing over.

The best answer to getting unstuck is movement. Affirm your relationship with God. Practice prayer. Read scripture. Fellowship with other Christians. Be committed to your church attendance. Move closer to God in times of trouble. When David is stuck, he begins to make a plan. He recognizes that the people of the city were taken, not killed. He recognizes that his men were severed from the army, not slaughtered. He recognizes that his men are talking of stoning him but have not acted yet. When you are hopeful and faithful, you will see that God is not absent.

Lessons to remember when you’re feeling stuck:

• No matter what, God is still working.

• Even though God is working, you should work too.

• The best answer to getting unstuck is movement.