David was not having a good day. First he got fired from his job. Then he returned to find his home -- in fact, not just his home, but his entire hometown -- burned down. His family had been kidnapped.

And this wasn't just David's hometown and family, but that of everyone who worked for him. And when they returned and found everything destroyed and everyone gone, these men were not happy, to say the least.

David caught wind of the talk. His soldiers were talking about getting rid of him. And I don't mean just firing him as their leader.

They were ready to put him to death.

We all have bad days, but most of us have never experienced a bad day like this.

In one day... no more job, a major crime committed against you, and everyone is blaming you and saying the death penalty is the only answer.

Not to mention, you're also physically exhausted from the responsibility of all the people under your care, the travel you've just finished, the deep grief of the loss you've experienced, and the loneliness of no one coming to your support.

Where will you find the strength to go on in circumstances like this?

Everything and everyone else was against him. David could think of only one person who could give him that kind of strength.

And I hope you will find your strength in the exact same person -- especially when you're going through those lonely bad days and painful crisis times in your own life.

"David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God" (1 Samuel 30:6, NIV).

Jesus, you are my Lord and my God. You are my Savior from sin, my eternal hope, and my strength for this life. I praise you for all the grace you show me day after day. Help me to always seek you for strength, especially on my bad days.

Our Bible reading for Sunday, May 31 is 1 Samuel 29:1 - 31:13, John 19:28 - 20:9 and Psalm 68:28-35.

Header image based on "House of Leaves" by LearningLark, CC By 2.0