When many of us think of courage, we envision great acts of faith—like David as a teenage shepherd going up against Goliath.

But there is another kind of courage that we don’t often recognize, and that is the courage to persevere in ongoing seasons of difficulty or discouragement. David exercised this kind of courage too. It’s recorded in 1 Samuel 30 as he faced the lowest moment of his life up to that point.

After years of unrelenting pressure from King Saul and living like a hunted animal to escape his jealous rage, David and his men had sought refuge in Philistine territory. But while the men were away, the city of Ziklag where they were living was raided, and their wives and children were taken captive. As the men returned to find this tragic situation, they mourned: “Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep” (1 Samuel 30:4).

But then things turned from bad to worse. David’s men “spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved” (1 Samuel 30:6).

Going up against Goliath is one thing—and it’s a great thing, a courageous thing—but losing your family to enemy raiders and your men’s families and to be almost stoned—that’s another thing. How do you go on in such a moment?

David did what so many Christians need to do today: “but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God” 
(1 Samuel 30:6).

Choosing to encourage yourself in the Lord requires a kind of courage that others may not see or applaud, but it is courage nonetheless. How do we do it? How do we develop the courage to find that consistent encouragement in the Lord? We learn four principles from the example of David.

Rest in the Sovereignty of God

When distress comes, our first response is nearly always to seek our solutions first and as a last resort turn to God; however, that was not David’s approach. David immediately went to the Lord to find encouragement and understanding. Although David was overwhelmed with the uncertainty of his situation, he knew that God was ultimately in control. Psalm 115:3 tells us: “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

How foolish are we to trust our own understanding when God has ordained each of our steps! “For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him” (Job 23:14). God has never lost control of your life. While we do not see how the trials could possibly be to our advantage, He knows the beginning from the end, and nothing takes Him by surprise. Remembering the greatness of God’s power and faithfulness can encourage you in discouraging times.

Rely on God’s Word

Although David did not understand the Lord’s plan, he recognized that hearing from God was the solution. “And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. And David enquired at the LORD…” (1 Samuel 30:7–8). David sought truth from God and found the encouragement he needed by hearing from the Lord.

Today, we have the complete, written Word of God, and it is one of the greatest sources of comfort and encouragement that God gives His people.

Turn to its promises, and hold them in the dark. Turn to its instructions, and step forward in faith before you see the way. Turn to its revelation of the character of God, and believe its truth when you cannot see it.

In the midst of our trials, God will often lead us to focus on one particular truth that we need the most for that moment: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Discouragement leaves us vulnerable to Satan’s lies. However, spending time in God’s Word protects us from that deception. When we are consumed with the circumstances of a trial, we must rest in God’s truth to point us in the right direction.

Request God’s Help

Too often, we make prayer our last resort. But it is the greatest resource we have for seeking God’s wisdom and pouring out our hearts to Him as our refuge. And David, who often availed himself of prayer, “enquired at the LORD.”

Hebrews 4:16 invites us to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

When we pray, we must not just go through the motions of prayer, but we must boldly approach our living God who is “touched with the feelings of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:15) and able and willing to provide the grace we need.

David received a response from the Lord and followed the instruction God gave. If David had trusted his solutions—or had sunk into despondency because there were no solutions—over the understanding the Lord had given him, David would not have experienced the answer to his prayers.

Receive the Encouragement God Provides

There are two primary ways God sends encouragement into our lives. But sometimes we fail to recognize them.

The first way is by the very presence of God. Paul wrote of his hour of distress when all earthly companions had left him, “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me”  (2 Timothy 4:17).

This was the very point of David encouraging himself in the Lord. God never forgets us, and God will never fail us or forsake us.

But there is another way that God sends encouragement, and that is through other people. In this instance for David, it was Abiathar the priest who helped him “enquire at the LORD.” In another instance in David’s life, it was his friend Jonathan who “arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God” (1 Samuel 23:16).

Paul, too, received the encouragement of God through others. In 2 Corinthians 7:6 he wrote, “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus.”

While our first response should always be to turn to the Lord for encouragement, we must also be willing to accept encouragement from others. There are times when Christians refuse the encouragement of others. That should not be. Instead, we should see their encouragement as a gift from the hand of God.

And we could also ask God to allow us to be that Abiathar, Jonathan, or Titus, strengthening our friends in the Lord.

The most courageous Christians are not necessarily those who attempt those most audacious and public feats for the cause of Christ. The most courageous may very well be those who, in the midst of overwhelming circumstances, consistently encourage.