When News Changes Everything
This week’s devotions are based on Week 6 of David: Finding Peace in Jesus (WATCH HERE)
2 Samuel 1:1–4 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, he stayed at Ziklag for two days. 2 Then, on the third day, a man arrived from Saul’s camp. His clothing was torn, and there was dirt on his head. When he approached David, he fell to the ground and bowed down to him.
3 David said to him, “Where are you coming from?”
He answered, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.”
4 David said to him, “What was the outcome? Tell me!”
The man said, “The people fled from the battle. Many of the people were struck down and died. Even Saul and his son Jonathan have died.”
David had just returned from victory. The Amalekites had been defeated. What was stolen had been restored. It seemed like a turning point. But on the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp with torn clothes and dust on his head, the ancient signs of grief. Saul was dead. Jonathan was dead. The battle had been lost.
Triumph and tragedy collided in a single moment.
David could have interpreted this news as opportunity. The throne he had been promised was now vacant. The one who had hunted him was gone. Yet David did not rush forward in ambition. He paused in grief. He received the news not as a politician calculating advantage, but as a servant of God whose heart was tender.
Life often turns this way. We move from one season into another without warning. A good report is followed by a hard phone call. A hopeful plan is interrupted by unforeseen loss. We imagine smooth transitions, but often experience sudden disruption. In those moments we are tempted to react quickly, to fix, to control, or to push forward in fear.
David shows us another way.
He allows sorrow its rightful place. He does not deny reality. He does not pretend strength. David penned in Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed. The nearness of God is not reserved for stable days. It is often most tangible when everything feels unsteady.
A sudden storm can darken a clear sky within minutes. The wind rises. The rain pounds. What determines whether a house stands is not the calm of yesterday but the strength of its foundation. David’s foundation was not his circumstances. It was his trust in the Lord who had called him. That trust did not erase grief, but it steadied him within it. He knew God was at work and was willing to continue to wait on his timing.
When difficult news arrives, resist panic. We are tempted to make immediate or rash decisions. Rather, pause before you plan. Pray before you speak. Let grief have its place without letting fear take control. God is not shaken by what shakes you. His purposes are not undone by sudden loss. The same Lord who carried you through yesterday’s victory will carry you through today’s sorrow. And in Him, you can still find peace in Jesus.
Reflect: How do I typically respond when unexpected hardship interrupts my plans? Where can I invite God into my current uncertainty instead of trying to manage it alone?
Prayer: Lord, when life shifts suddenly and I feel unsteady, anchor my heart in You. Teach me to pause before You rather than panic. Help me trust that Your faithfulness remains steady even in loss. Let me find peace in Jesus today. Amen.
Peace comes through integrity, not always Victory
This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of David: Finding Peace in Jesus (WATCH HERE)
1 Samuel 24:16 When David finished saying this, Saul asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” And he wept aloud. 17 “You are more righteous than I,” he said. “You have treated me well, but I have treated you badly. 18 You have just now told me about the good you did to me; the Lord delivered me into your hands, but you did not kill me. 19 When a man finds his enemy, does he let him get away unharmed? May the Lord reward you well for the way you treated me today. 20 I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. 21 Now swear to me by the Lord that you will not kill off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s family.”
22 So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.
When David steps out of the cave and calls after Saul, he does not shout accusations. He does not rehearse every injustice. He simply presents the evidence of restraint. The corner of the robe in his hand testifies that he had the opportunity to kill the king and refused. In that moment, integrity speaks louder than victory ever could. Saul, the very man who hunted him, is moved to tears and confesses, “You are more righteous than I.” David never demanded those words. They rose from the power of a conscience awakened by mercy.
This scene reveals a deep truth about finding peace when attacked by enemies. Peace is not secured by defeating them. It is secured by remaining faithful before God. David’s calm courage flows from trust. He had already declared earlier in the chapter that he would not raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed. Now the fruit of that restraint appears. Psalm 37:5–6 promises, “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light.” David entrusted his cause to God, and God brought clarity in His time.
David does not spare Saul to manipulate public opinion or to secure political advantage. He acts because he fears the Lord and trusts the Lord. Faith freed him from the frantic need to justify himself. That freedom is peace. When we believe that God is our vindicator, we are released from proving our worth.
Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man’s ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Saul’s confession is not full repentance, but it is a moment of softened hostility. Integrity creates space for truth to surface. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 5:16 when He calls us to let our light shine before others so that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. The light does not argue with the darkness. It simply shines.
Imagine a mirror. A mirror does not debate the person standing before it. It reflects what is there. David’s integrity becomes a mirror for Saul. In sparing his life, David exposes Saul’s jealousy and injustice without speaking a single insult. Likewise, when we respond to hostility with patience, truthfulness, and mercy, we reflect the character of Christ. 1 Peter 2:23 tells us that when Jesus was reviled, He did not revile in return, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly. That entrusting is the wellspring of peace.
In our lives, enemies may take the form of coworkers who misrepresent us, family members who criticize us, or voices online that distort our motives. The temptation is to counterattack and win the argument. Yet when we protect integrity instead of reputation, we give God room to work. Our restraint may become the very instrument He uses to awaken another’s conscience.
David walked away from the cave without a throne, but he walked away with peace. Saul left with his life spared and his heart stirred. Victory might have silenced an enemy. Integrity spoke to his soul.
Reflect: Am I more concerned with being right or being faithful? How might God be using my restraint to speak to others?
Prayer: Faithful God, guard my integrity when I am misunderstood or attacked. Free me from the need to defend myself at every turn. Help me trust You to vindicate what is true and to use my faithfulness as a witness to Your grace. Fill my heart with the peace that comes from resting in You. Amen.
Restraint speaks louder than revenge!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of David: Finding Peace in Jesus (WATCH HERE)
1 Samuel 24:8 Then David went out of the cave and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 9 He said to Saul, “Why do you listen when men say, ‘David is bent on harming you’? 10 This day you have seen with your own eyes how the Lord delivered you into my hands in the cave. Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the Lord’s anointed.’ 11 See, my father, look at this piece of your robe in my hand! I cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you. See that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that I am guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion. I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life. 12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. 13 As the old saying goes, ‘From evildoers come evil deeds,’ so my hand will not touch you.
14 “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? 15 May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.”
David steps out of the cave and calls after Saul, the very man who is hunting him down. David has just spared Saul’s life. He had the opportunity to end the threat once and for all, yet he chose restraint. What follows is not a triumphal speech but a humble appeal rooted in trust in God. David models a surprising path to peace when facing an enemy: reverence for God, clarity of conscience, and surrender of justice to the Lord.
David begins by honoring Saul as “my lord the king.” Though Saul has acted unjustly, David refuses to let Saul’s behavior define his own heart. Peace begins here. It starts with choosing who we will be before God, regardless of how others treat us. David’s words echo later wisdom found in Romans 12:18, If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. David does what depends on him. He refuses to retaliate.
David then appeals to truth. He explains that he did not raise his hand against Saul and even shows proof by holding up the corner of Saul’s robe. This is not self defense driven by pride but a clear conscience speaking calmly. There is deep peace in knowing that your integrity is intact. Proverbs 20:7 reminds us, “A righteous person walks in his integrity. How blessed are his children after him!” David’s peace is rooted in the knowledge that God sees the whole story.
Next, David entrusts judgment to God. He declares that the Lord will judge between him and Saul. David does not deny that wrong has been done, but he refuses to become the judge. This surrender is crucial for peace. When we cling to the need for vindication, our hearts stay restless. Psalm 37:7 urges us, “Be silent before the Lord. Wait patiently for him. Do not fret when an evil man succeeds in his ways, when he carries out his wicked schemes.” David’s stillness is not weakness. It is faith.
Finally, David recognizes his own smallness. He compares himself to a dead dog and a flea. Rather than exaggerating his importance or defending his reputation, he humbles himself before God. Peace grows when pride shrinks. “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).
Facing our enemies is tough. Many temptations want us to add to the sin of our enemies by sinning back. But, like David, we may not be able to change the intentions of our enemies, but we can choose our posture. Peace is found not in controlling outcomes but in trusting God with them.
Reflect: Where am I tempted to take matters into my own hands instead of trusting God to judge justly? How might choosing humility and integrity change the way I face conflict right now?
Prayer: Lord, You see every injustice and every hidden motive. Teach me to walk in integrity and humility even when I am wronged. Help me release my desire for revenge and trust You as my defender and judge. Guard my heart with Your peace and shape my responses to reflect Your grace. I choose to wait on You. Amen.
Peace in Restraint
This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of David: Finding Peace in Jesus (WATCH HERE)
1 Samuel 24:5–7 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. 6 He said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD.” 7 With these words David rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.
David stood in the dark of the cave with everything he thought he wanted within reach. Saul, the king who had hunted him relentlessly, was vulnerable. This was the moment others had promised him. This was the opening he had prayed for. And yet, instead of striking, David’s heart struck him. Scripture tells us that David was “conscience-stricken” after cutting off the corner of Saul’s robe. Even that small, symbolic act unsettled his spirit. David recognized that taking matters into his own hands, even when justified by circumstance, would rob him of peace.
Here we see a profound truth. Peace does not come from eliminating our enemies. It comes from entrusting them to God. David restrains his men and says, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing… to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD’s anointed.” David’s peace was rooted not in Saul’s behavior but in God’s authority and faithfulness. Proverbs 20:22 echoes this wisdom: “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.”
This kind of restraint runs counter to our instincts. When we are wronged, our hearts crave resolution, vindication, and control. We want to speak the final word or force the outcome. But Scripture consistently points us another way. Romans 12:19 reminds us, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God.” David trusted that God’s justice would be more complete and more righteous than anything he could manufacture.
Imagine holding a clenched fist tight for hours. Eventually the tension becomes exhausting and painful. Revenge, bitterness, and self-justification do the same thing to the soul. David opens his hand. He lets go of his right to retaliate, and in doing so, he finds peace. Psalm 4:8 captures this posture beautifully: “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”
For us, enemies may not be kings chasing us through the wilderness, but they can be coworkers who undermine us, family members who wound us, or voices that constantly accuse us of not being enough. Peace comes when we choose obedience over opportunity and trust over triumph. Jesus Himself modeled this when He said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” in Matthew 5:44. At the cross, He entrusted Himself to the Father, even while being wronged, and through that surrender, God brought redemption.
David’s restraint did not make him weak. It revealed his strength of faith. True peace grows when we believe that God sees, God knows, and God will act in His time.
Reflect: Where am I tempted to take matters into my own hands rather than trusting God with a difficult person or situation? What step of restraint or mercy might God be inviting me to take so that my heart can rest in His peace?
Prayer: Lord, You see the conflicts we carry and the wounds we hide. Teach us to trust You when we are wronged and to release our desire for control. Guard our hearts from bitterness and fill us with the peace that comes from obedience. Help us to reflect Your mercy and rest in Your justice. We place our enemies and our fears into Your faithful hands. Amen.
Finding Peace When I Could Take Revenge
This week’s devotions are based on Week 5 of David: Finding Peace in Jesus (WATCH HERE)
1 Samuel 24:1-4 After Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the Desert of En Gedi.” 2 So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and set out to look for David and his men near the Crags of the Wild Goats.
3 He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. 4 The men said, “This is the day the LORD spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’ ” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.
David is exhausted, hunted, and hemmed in. Saul has pursued him relentlessly, twisting truth, mobilizing armies, and turning David’s life into a long season of fear. Then suddenly the unimaginable happens. Saul enters the very cave where David is hiding. No guards. No warning. No escape. David’s enemy is vulnerable, exposed, and completely within reach.
David’s men immediately interpret the moment as divine intervention. “This is the day the LORD spoke of.” Their reasoning sounds faithful. God promised David the kingdom. Saul is the obstacle. The path forward seems obvious. Yet the greatest danger David faces in this cave is not Saul’s spear but his own heart. When we are attacked long enough, peace can begin to look like payback.
Our sinful nature is quick to justify itself, even using God’s name to do it. James reminds us that God does not tempt anyone. Temptation rises from within, when desire conceives and gives birth to sin. The urge to strike back, to defend our name, or to secure peace through control does not come from God, even when circumstances make it feel righteous.
David’s restraint is striking. Though anointed as king, he refuses to act as if God’s promise frees him from God’s order. Faith does not grab the future by force. Faith waits. Peace, in this moment, does not come from eliminating the enemy but from trusting the Lord who sees the whole story.
Genesis 50 echoes this truth. Joseph, also betrayed and attacked, later confesses that what others meant for evil, God meant for good. That confession does not erase the pain of injustice. It anchors peace in God’s hidden work rather than immediate relief. David cannot yet see how God will resolve Saul’s hostility, but he knows how God has promised to act. God’s promises, not opportunity, is the wisdom he follows.
When we are under attack, peace is often confused with escape or victory. Scripture redefines peace as trust under pressure. Like a driver who sees a green light but ignores the pedestrian crossing signal, we can mistake permission for wisdom. God’s will is not revealed through impulse or advantage but through His Word.
The Gospel quietly sustains David here. The Lord who restrains David in the cave is the same Lord who will one day restrain Himself on the cross. Christ faces enemies who mock, accuse, and strike Him, yet He entrusts Himself to the Father who judges justly. That peace, won through suffering rather than retaliation, now belongs to us.
When enemies attack, peace is not found in striking back but in standing still beneath God’s promises. Faith waits. Christ reigns. God remains faithful.
Reflect
When have I mistaken opportunity for God’s approval?
What authority or boundary am I tempted to ignore because it feels inconvenient?
Prayer
Lord God, quiet my heart when temptation disguises itself as opportunity. Teach me to trust Your Word more than my instincts. Keep me faithful even when obedience feels costly. Grant me peace that rests not in victory, but in You. Amen.