David overcame being a target of envy…
1 Samuel 18:26-30 (NLT)
26David was delighted to accept the offer. Before the time limit expired, 27he and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. Then David fulfilled the king’s requirement… So Saul gave his daughter Michal to David to be his wife. 28When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him, 29Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life. 30Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul’s officers. So David’s name became very famous.
But somehow, a dark cloud descended on Michal’s mind…
Dearest Merab,
As I pen this letter, my thoughts scatter like raindrops on the roof—each one a world unto itself, yet all part of a greater storm. The palace is abuzz with news of David’s latest feat, a bride price paid in Philistine blood. Father’s cunning is as transparent as it is chilling; he seeks to rid himself of David, using me as bait on the hook.
I find myself in a tempest of emotion. On one hand, I am elated to be married to the one I love, a man who has once again proven himself, not just as a warrior but as a man of unwavering faith. His resilience is like a sturdy oak in a storm, bending but never breaking. I’ve heard him speak of his trust in God, his belief that every trial is but a stepping stone on the path of righteousness [1]. His Praying Songs are his sanctuary, a place where he lays bare his soul and finds strength in vulnerability.
Yet, my heart is burdened, almost suffocating under the oppressive weight of Father’s malevolent schemes. How can he be so consumed by corrosive envy that he would threaten the life of a man who has done nothing but serve him faithfully? What dark fate awaits us after our union? If I am but a pawn in his lethal game, will our future be forever shackled to the capricious whims of a father whose soul is tainted by darkness?
You, dear sister, have found love in Adriel. And I found my heart’s love in David. I still remember being mesmerized by him when I overheard his conversation with our brother Jonathan this one night:
Jonathan: “What can a man, especially a young man, do when the king decides to use him for target practice but then he decides not to return the compliment?”
David: “First of all, he must pretend he cannot see spears. Even when they are coming straight at him. Second, he must also learn to duck very quickly. Last, he must pretend nothing at all happened.”
Jonathan: “You can easily tell when someone has been hit by a spear. He turns a deep shade of bitter. But you never got hit!”
David: “Gradually, I learned a very well-kept secret. I discovered three things that prevented myself from ever being hit. One, never learn anything about the fashionable, easily mastered art of spear throwing. Two, stay out of the company of all spear throwers. And three, keep your mouth tightly closed. In this way, spears will never touch you, even when they pierce your heart.” [2]
These words struck me like lightning, illuminating the dark corners of my heart. It made me realize why I am so drawn to David. He is a man of not just courage but also of profound wisdom. He fights not for a throne or a bride but for God’s honor. How can one not admire a man like that?
David’s secret, I believe, lies in his unwavering faith. He speaks of God as his fortress, his deliverer. He talks of waiting patiently for the Lord, of trusting in His unfailing love [3]. These are not mere words, Merab; they are the pillars upon which he builds his life.
And so, I find myself pondering your happiness and my own. What would you give to possess such resilience, such unshakeable faith in the face of life’s storms? Can we, too, find our sanctuary, our fortress in the midst of chaos?
Yours in love and hope,
Michal
Share with your friends “What would you give to possess resilience in the face of life’s storm, to have an unshakeable faith in the midst of chaos?”
[1] In Psalm 23, David speaks of God as his shepherd, guiding him through the “valley of the shadow of death.” In Psalm 37, David advises to “Trust in the LORD and do good,” and speaks about the righteous versus the wicked. In Psalm 18, David calls the Lord his rock, fortress, and deliverer, saying, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.“
[2] Quotes are from Gene Edwards “Tales of the Three Kings”
[3] In Psalm 27, David says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” In Psalm 40, David speaks of waiting patiently for the Lord and putting a new song in his mouth. In Psalm 13, David asks how long he must wrestle with his thoughts and have sorrow in his heart but ends with “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.“
I think sometimes when we’re facing life’s storm, it is a challenging storm to get through without dependence on the Lord. To remain resilient is to lay down my own desires, comfort, and agenda & to trust in God’s faithfulness to lead me through. Despite Saul’s countless attempts to get David killed, David remains resilient through the trials because the Lord was with him. David’s confidence & unwavering faith was in God.
I would give up my fear to have such resilience and faith in the midst of chaos. Fear has been a major factor that makes me stumble. Whenever I’m facing a hard challenge that requires me to be courageous. I tend to flee away. For example, when I have the opportunity to share the gospel with someone. I would hesitate to share because I am afraid of people judging me for my beliefs. But I should not be ashamed nor afraid to share the gospel. I pray that God will take away my fear when it comes to sharing the gospel and other moments that requires me to be courageous.
(from Kevin)
For this question, I don’t think there is a thing we can give to possess resilience in the face of life’s storm. The only thing I can think of giving is ourselves. Being able to surrender to God and letting him control the storm himself. If we were to control the storm, it would be a difficult task to handle. With God, anything is possible even the storms that are ahead of us. God has helped me so much throughout this past year. Probably been one of the toughest storms I have encountered but being able to surrender to God and letting him “steer the boat” has helped open so many opportunities with my faith. God knows we can’t battle these storms alone. God is willing to come into our lives and fight with us.
I would give up comfort to have resilience to have unshakeable faith. I think often times the reason why our faith is shakey is due to the fact that we get to used to life and forget about God and even during hard times we think we can do it ourselves. So giving up comfort would be what I would give up.
As it’s said in the reading, David fights not for a throne or a bride, but for God’s honor. That’s why he can pretend nothing happened and not seek revenge against Saul. So, I believe this is the only way that can help me possess resilience when I face life’s storms. I know that God knows what is happening in my life and that God will always protect and be by my side. I will continue to do things that honor God’s righteousness rather than seeking revenge against my enemies.
I have faced a lot of challenges in my life, i lost my mom, i recently lost my grandma and my little brother, i was institutionalized from jail to prison to federal prison continuously , not in and out. My kids are not with me now and i thank god they are in good hands! When I was released from fed prison in 2013, I had nothing, I literally lost everything but by the grace of god, I thank my grandma for taking me in. I have had to face my drug addictions recently and the one thing that I can say is that i do have resilience. I bounce back, and I can sure withstand a lot of difficulties . Sometimes it takes a while but I’ll get through it and I have. I’m not telling because I want some type of recognition , but it’s important that I am openly honest to tell you ladies my story so you can have a better understanding of the old Celeste vs the new Celeste.
One thing for certain is that God today play a very important role in my life. I believe in him whole heartedly , and so I will do everything that I can to do his will, to hold onto my faith with him, that means to be of service, to give and not have any type of reservations. To pray to him at time that f desperations . My weakness for drugs really killed me but I surrendered to god and asked for help and here I am 64 days later and counting and I am truly amazed of my progress.
Life has thrown me so much lemons and rocks and everything else but god forgave me for my sins and I am still here blessed with so much more in my life, so there is nothing that I won’t be able to withstand and make it though now that i have him in my life again. BRING IT ON LIFE!
God,thank you for your kindness, your grace and your forgiveness , I am humbled and will always be at your service. Amen.
I would have to give up pride and comfort in life’s storm to have unshakable faith. I think that it goes back to why we disobey God in the first place, and it does really tie back to those two for myself. Usually when faced with challenges, it takes me out of my control of the situation and also my comfort of knowing next steps, but I need to continue remembering that He is who I need to turn to and have faith
From sister Becky
I think it’s important in order to stand against the storms of life I must have a strong foundation in God. I would need to give my time to strengthen my soul through prayer, reading the Bible and sharing life with other Christians.
Matthew 7:24-27
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Despite the storms in my life, i have never compromise my faith. The enemy (devil) is always going to compete for your soul and do anything to try to steal you away from God. In our weakness it is easy to blame God for all of life’s troubles. I need to stay strong and keep my faith.
James 5:4-8 (NLT)
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
“God is our present help and when we live a life according to His purpose and plan we can rest assured that He will give us what we need. The temptations and trials we face are powerful life lessons we can not only learn from but use to help others grow in their faith. They will help us to show love, compassion and empathy. The world is full of people who are willing to compromise their faith for self-gratification, but we have seen how people who live for temporary pleasure eventually experience a life of heartbreak and heartache. Don’t let the storms of life blow you all over. Remember who your anchor is and stand steadfast to His promises”
Being still! When we place our trust in God knowing He has everything under control despite the storms of life, we can rest in Him.
Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
(From Jho)
What should I give up to be resilience, well I think I would give up my control and trust God. I need to practice that trust and surrender to God everyday to build a strong faith so when life storm comes, I can stand firm. I remember when Bumble had a nervous breakdown, I was really scared yet I had peace in my heart. I meditated God’s words every second and in constant prayers. I know that if I attempted to be strong by myself, I will faint. Oh God, help us to trust in you and surrender our will, cuz you are strong and we are weak, without you, we will fail.