Calm & Confident During Hard Times

Recently, Natalie and I were rowing a canoe along a lake shore. We looked up an a male American Eagle was perched high up in a tree. This larger big looked cool and calm as we pulled up to is shore. He looked down with no care in the world. He was calm and confident. This was his lake. That was his water. This was his turf.

The American Bald Eagle projects a calm confidence because of who he was and is.

David has had many close calls with King Saul. The most recent, he was actually surrounded, when God made a way of escape when the Philistines came and attacked, and Saul left David to defend Israel.

David remained calm and confident in the Lord during hard times.

After the events of this Chapter, Saul does chase him again, but this is a moment in which Saul readily admits - David will be the next King.

Do any of you have the small folding military, camping, or hiking shovels? Do you know who essentially invented those?

Deuteronomy 23:13 KJV 1900

And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:

King Saul finds a cave to go to the “bathroom.” Of all the caves in Isreal, in all the many caves in the hills of En-Gedi, he picks the very Cave that David is hiding in!

En-Gedi = “Spring of a Kid”

Along the dead sea, animals and people would look for natural Springs, and that is where they could camp, or establish, these are watering holes for animals, or even small settlements. This is a wilderness area.

We Can Remain Calm and Confident in the Lord, Even in Hard Times.

3 “R’s” of Calm Confidence...

Respect Others. 5-6

David demonstrates Respect for Saul because God had Saul anointed as the King.

David also Respects Saul as his father in law.

David Respects Saul as a person.

1 Timothy 2:1–3 KJV 1900

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

Respect Others.

Restrain Evil. 7

1 Peter 3:10 KJV 1900

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

Psalm 119:101 KJV 1900

I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might keep thy word.

He restrained evil in his life.

He restrained others from doing evil.

You have a voice.

You have influence.

You can make a difference for someone to choose not to do evil.

Knight’s Master Book of New Illustrations Thomas Edison’s Tribute

Thomas Edison paid a beautiful tribute to his mother when he said: “I did not have my mother long, but she cast over me an influence that has lasted all my life. The good effects of her early training I can never lose. If it had not been for her appreciation and her faith in me at a critical time in my experience, I should never have become an inventor. I was always a careless boy, and with a mother of different mental calibre, I should have turned out badly. But her firmness, her goodness, were potent powers to keep me in the right path. My mother was the making of me. The memory of her will always be a blessing.”

Respect Others.

Restrain Evil. 7

Realize God. 11-15, 15

An ancient proverb that was common to the Hebrew culture was that “Wicked people do wickedly.” 13

Where does evil come from? Wicked people...

Jesus said:

Luke 6:43–45 KJV 1900

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

All of us are sinners and have the capability of the most terrible sins imaginable, but we respond and react to temptation based on what we have in our heart.

If you are feeding sinful ideas to your mind, you will more than likely act out those sinful ideas in your actions.

1 Corinthians 15:10 KJV 1900

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Let God Judge.

Let God Plead Your Cause.

Let God Deliver You.

Romans 12:19 KJV 1900

Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Conclusion:

We Can Remain Calm and Confident in the Lord, Even in Hard Times.

3 “R’s” of Calm Confidence...

Respect Others. 5-6

Restrain Evil. 7

Realize God. 11-15, 15

D and A:

Why is it important to respect our civic leaders?

Share ways to demonstrate respect, even with people with whom you disagree.

Illustrate how you can influence people away from evil.

In what ways can we give our problems or even problem people over to the Lord to allow Him to judge?

Discuss what “Calm Confidence” looks like for the faithful Christian.