How did David do it?

I was reminded recently about a story during a particularly difficult time in David's life (that famous Israelite king from the Bible) where things had seemingly gone pretty bad, everyone was against him, and all seemed lost.
What did David do in response?
How did he recover from this life defining moment?
I believe there is something in his story that maybe could be applied to your story, if not today, maybe sometime in the future...

The account goes something like this...
David has a bunch of men including their families moving from place to place, doing what they need to do to survive.
Up until this moment it was like a very adventurous camping trip.
There were strange encounters. There were battles to fight.
And in it all God seemed with them and blessing them.
One day they come home from another of their 'adventures' to find an enemy has raided their temp camping home. This enemy has taken all they own including their wives and children. Then to rub salt in their wounds, they have burned to the ground what that couldn't carry away with them.
It seems that the enemy of David and his men wanted to inflict as much pain as possible. And it worked!

Imagine being David for a moment...
He has lost everything.
The people he is doing his best to lead have lost everything.
The promise of God he has carried for decades now is seemingly even further off than ever.

And then you read what might happen next...
David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.
1 Samuel 30:6 NIV

Not a great moment in his leadership journey!
Everything seems lost. The people are upset.
A leadership challenge is being seriously considered.

But David does something truly pivotal to seeing this situation improve!
...But David found strength in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6 NIV

Others translations help explain this a little clearer:
...David strengthened himself with trust in his God MSG
...But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. ESV

So how did David do it?
How did he encourage himself in God when in the natural all seemed completely lost and hopeless?
How can you get through whatever it is you are facing, especially if you are like David and like in this particular circumstance, have no human help left to turn to?

Here is what I think David might have done:
1. Reminded himself about God personal promise to him
The day Samuel anointed him as king in front of his family and made declarations of his future kingship. God had promised him he would be a great leader.
2. Reminded himself about how God has rescued him before
David had killed lions and bears as a very young boy to protect the sheep under his care.
Another time he killed at impossible opponent called Goliath.
3. Reminded himself of the relationship he has with God
I am sure he spent time just as he had many times in the past talking with God, being honest with God, being in His presence, resting in the special relationship.

If you read the rest of the story it is truly miraculous!
From this point God sends a prophet, a special encounter and a full restoration.
So today maybe the best thing you and I could do is to encourage ourselves in the Lord.
It is what David did. It is certainly what we should copy to...

Something to think about...