Have you ever felt overwhelmed? It doesn’t have to be life altering events that leave you feeling that way. Maybe you’re having car problems, the kids need braces, and the washing machine breaks down all in the same month. That can be overwhelming. Over the course of the last several months, it’s become even easier to become overwhelmed. Perhaps you’re struggling to find a way to convert your home into an office, a school and a restaurant. With an ongoing global pandemic, there are health concerns, job concerns and all sorts of other fears that we have to face every single day. It’s easy to become overwhelmed.
God’s Word tells us that we are victorious people. But how do you live a life of victory when you feel like you’re fighting to survive. When bills start piling up and stuff starts breaking down, it’s easy to feel like you’re lucky if you can tread water long enough to make it by. That’s not God’s plan for you! As Children of God, we are people of victory. You can overcome even when it feels like life is overwhelming you.
David and the Philistines
2 Samuel 5
When we pick up this story about David, he had just taken his position as the king over all of Israel. Samuel had anointed him as the king roughly 20 years before, but David had to wait for God’s time before he could take his seat on the throne. Over the course of those years, David had done a lot. He had led armies, served in Saul’s court and even survived multiple murder attempts by King Saul. Sometimes waiting can be overwhelming. Uncertainty can be overwhelming. David knew he was going to be the king of Israel one day, but he had no way of knowing when. God had told him that he would be the ruler over His people, but David had to go through a lot to get there. When you feel overwhelmed in the waiting, wrap yourself in the promises of God’s word. David continually stood on the promise that God had given him. When you feel like you’ve overwhelmed while you’re waiting on things to get better, clothe yourself in the promises of God’s Word. He has promised that no weapon that’s formed against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). He has promised that everything that happens in your life is working for your benefit (Romans 8:28). He has promised that He will never leave you alone in the middle of the worst times of your life (Hebrews 13:5). When you feel overwhelmed, stand on those truths!
It didn’t take David long to start overthrowing other cities and nations of people. In fact, shortly after we read about how he finally became king, the Bible says this:
2 Samuel 5:10 (ESV)
And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.
Everything was supposed to be better for David now. He had turmoiled for years, waiting on his chance to be the king of Israel. Now, he was on the throne, the Lord was with him and his kingdom was rapidly expanding. There was nothing to fear, right? Think again.
2 Samuel 5:17 (ESV)
When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. But David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.
In modern Christian terms, we often throw the word “stronghold” around as a bad thing. However, in ancient times, it served a great purpose. The stronghold was an area of the palace that was completely fortified. There was no way for an incoming enemy to make their way into the stronghold unless they got to the inside of the King’s quarters. You and I have a stronghold, the Word of God. David went into the stronghold to seek the will of God about this situation. We can go into the Word of God to do the same thing.
David was no stranger to the Philistines. Afterall, David rose to fame when he killed their champion, Goliath (1 Samuel 17). As soon as they heard that he was Israel’s king, they came after him. However, this was different. This wasn’t one single Philistine like Goliath was. Instead, this was an entire army of Philistines. The Bible says that they had “spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim” (2 Samuel 5:18). The word “Rephaim” literally translated mean “giants.” So David looks out the window of the palace and sees an army full of giants spread across the valley of giants.
2 Samuel 5:19-20 (ESV)
And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.” And David came to Baal-perazim and David defeated them there. And he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me like a breaking flood.” Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.
Baal-perazim literally translates to “The God of the Breakthrough.” This place that was once called “The Valley of Giants” was renamed to “The God of the Breakthrough.” Why? Because David sought God when he was overwhelmed by the number of giants that had come against him.
How did David overcome them when he could’ve been overwhelmed? He prayed. He started out by hiding himself in the stronghold so he could receive clear direction from God, and he followed that up by asking God for His divine direction. However, the Philistines didn’t take their first defeat in stride.
2 Samuel 5:22-24
And the Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.
The Philistines came back to the place of their defeat and tried again. Once again, David had a choice between overcoming or being overwhelmed. This time, he prayed and God told him not to even fight the battle. Instead, he was supposed to entrust it to the Lord.
When David was overwhelmed, he did three things. First, he hid himself in the strong hold. Secondly, he prayed and asked God for direction. Finally, he relinquished the battle to the Lord. In Chapter 5 of 2 Samuel, God uses David to give us a roadmap of how to handle our overwhelming situations.
The first step to overcoming when you’re overwhelmed is to hide yourself in the truth and the power of God’s word. When you stand on God’s promises, you can elevate yourself above the attacks of the enemy. The second thing to do is to pray. Earnestly seeking the face of God in the middle of trouble allows you to hear from Him and shift your focus from your circumstances to your Savior. Finally, you have to come to the realization that the battle is not yours to fight. When you become a Child of God, you inherit the protection that comes with your new position in God’s family.
Circumstances can overwhelm you. When you take a look at what’s going on in the world as a whole and then combine that with the things that are going on in your personal life, it’s easy to be overwhelmed. However, we can overcome in the face of overwhelming situations. We belong to God! Since we are His people and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3), He has promised to protect us in the face of the most overwhelming of situations.
A Closing Prayer:
God, You see everything that I’m going through. You are keenly aware of everything going on in my life and my innermost thoughts. Help me to shift my focus from what I’m facing to You and Your goodness. I understand that I am simply unable to get through this on my own and my strength is insufficient. Help me to rely more on You and Your power. In Christ’s name, Amen