This Is One Way To Overcome Your Darkest Days

​2 Sam. 12:19-23 - But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; so David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "He is dead." So David arose from the ground, washed, anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he came into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he came to his own house, and when he requested, they set food before him and he ate. 
 
Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept; but when the child died, you arose and ate food." He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, ' Who knows, the LORD may be gracious to me, that the child may live.'  "But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."  NASU 

• With Hope 

The best way I have found to overcome my darkest days is with hope in God's help. This is exactly what we see David using to get through a very difficult time in his life. His hope is in God.
 
What could be worse than being with your dying child?
 
David's son is dying and his "hope" is God would change His mind and be gracious to him by sparing the child's life, but this will not happen. The child will die.
 
David's actions confuse his servants. While his son is alive David lays on the ground, he refuses to be helped up; he fasts and prays continually for his child's life to be spared.
 
The baby dies and David changes his actions immediately. He remains hopeful, but his hope has changed. Since God is not permitting the baby to live on earth any longer David sets his hope on being reunited with his child in the next life.
 
Notice what the text says: "But now he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."  
 
David asks a rhetorical question: Can I bring him back again? The answer is "No, he can't bring him back". So what is David's next course of action? 

• Hope Realigned 

David says in essence "Okay, I tried and it didn't work." In other words, I fasted and prayed and God has said, "No."
 
Therefore, I will change my "hope" it will now be in me going to my child "… I will go to him, but he will not return to me."  
 
David shows us after having just come through one of the darkest periods in his life he still is a man of faith who believes in living with "hope" when he says, "I will go to him". 

• Your Life 

I don't know what is going on in your life but I can tell you this much it is easier traveling through this life with hope than traveling through hopeless.
 
You may not be having a crisis going on right now and I hope you are not, but I can tell you this much crisis or no crisis life is meant to be lived by having "hope" in God.
 
I love this Psalm 31:24 - Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD.
 
You and I are those who take hope in the LORD. When we hope in Him we will not be disappointed.
 
Think About These:
 
Hope sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible.
 
Hope for the best, be prepared for the worst, and take what comes with a smile.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago
 
Minister of God's Word