I am blessed to work (in ministry) with a man who not only shares the PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) diagnosis with me, he has had it since 1967. “JB” has 4 purple hearts and is probably the main reason that PTSD is recognized by the VA (Veterans Administration) and DOD (Department of Defense). We have talked recently about how “new” is PTSD or even is it?

As I talked through and prayed about this topic the Lord revealed to me that this has been around for ages, because Soldiers are and always will be returning from war…

Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. (1 Samuel 30:1-4 ESV)

As you read further the Soldiers even went so far to want to stone their leader. PTSD creates several layers of hurt, question, distrust, hate, aggression, and at times uncontrolled fear. These men were not thinking rationally because of the loss they just endured.

For I, the LORD your (when is something yours? Think of your bride, she is yours when you have that relationship with her, she is yours when you will do anything for her, give yourself up for her…that is why He uses the marriage picture in Gen 2) God, hold your right hand (right hand? The place of honor, the same side that Jesus sits at!); it is I (He Himself) who say to you (He personalizes it for His saints – those that are His), “Fear not (don’t worry, let me (Him) take this from you – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest – Matt 11:28), I am the ONE who helps you.” (Isaiah 41:13 ESV)

In verse 6 while in the midst of all of this trauma, fire, loss, troops turning on him what does he do? He “strengthens himself in the Lord” – David was filled with the strength and security that can only come from the Jesus…this ONE man sought the Lord and the rest of his men were healed, they set off to get back in the battle -

Each of us can be that man, that when you are lost, beaten, or even on the brink of defeat – “strengthen” yourself in the Lord. Day to day, do you come to the Lord for strength? When you have the opportunity to share Him with someone and you feel uncomfortable, scared I would encourage you to stop at that very moment and “strengthen” yourself in the Lord.

What you do or don’t say may have a bigger affect on that opportunity in front of you for the Kingdom that you may ever know. Don’t waste that opportunity to be obedient to your King…engage in the battle for Him.

Father, I pray that you would give us all a warriors heart like David’s, that we would put you first in our lives. I pray that you would expose opportunities for us to share You with the unbelieving world. I ask that we would be set afire for your kingdom…I thank you and I praise you in JESUS name…