David was on the run. Running from his enemies. King Saul and his men were after him. Traps and snares were set to trip him up. Catch him and do away with him. David found refuge in a dark, cold cave. He took himself out of the light, and went into a dark place to sit and think, rest and plan, and most importantly…enter the closet of prayer.
His complaint? I am distressed! Overwhelmed! Help me!
2 I pour out my complaints before him and tell him all my troubles. 3 For I am overwhelmed, and you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me. 4 I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. Psalm 142:2-4 (NLT)
David had enemies. He was under seige. His friends were missing on his battlefield. Jonathan lost his life because of his devotion to David. His best friend was gone. David was on uncertain ground. Not sure where to turn. Have you ever been in a cave experience? Have you ever sought shelter from your enemies? Enemies don’t necessarily have to be human beings. Our enemies can also be worry, fear, anxiety, difficult decisions, illness, grief, financial problems. So many enemies that “the enemy” uses to try to derail us.
What did David find there in that dark, cold place?
5 Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life. Psalm 142:6 (NLT)
David found comfort. He found a listening ear. He found quiet to feel the presence of his Lord. He found refuge. He determined that God was the only one who could help him. The only relationship that would never make a break for it, when troubles would come. A safe place to stop and visit in prayerful quiet time. We need that quiet time too. We need a prayer closet to step out of the noise of our world and rest in the arms of God for a spell. So we can stop running from our enemies and listen for direction and feel the comfort of a wise Father.
Once he withdrew into the cave, what was he expecting to find in there?
6 Hear my cry, for I am very low. Rescue me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me. 7 Bring me out of prison so I can thank you. The godly will crowd around me, for you treat me kindly. Psalm 142: 6-7 (NLT)
He was confident that God was going to hear him calling and would help him. He also expected that once he emerged from the cave, that the godly would gather about him. They would see God’s favor over him and His kindness to David in bringing him through this battle with his enemies.
Are you in a cave of distress right now? Are the pressures of your enemies, however they are defined, getting to you? Are they stealing your peace and rest? Do you need to remove yourself from the danger zone and the noise? Me too! Perhaps it is time to enter our cave, our prayer closet, our prayer chair, car or room away from the world. Take a breather from the TV, the news of the day. Focus. It might be time to say outloud to our God what fears we have, what is chasing us and unsettling our days. He sees all and He hears all. But, like a good Father, He wants to hear the voice of His children. He wants to be invited in to hear our challenges, see evidence that our faith and trust are in Him and Him only. Our conversation with our Father in our caves of prayer, will allow us to exit the quiet place, ready and able to handle whatever we must. The godly will recognize that we have had a cave experience, that we have overcome our enemies and made it through. They may even want to hear our story, our testimony of how we met Him in our cave. How he took our mind off of our enemies and put it on the only thing that really matters. Our relationship with God.
~Prayer For Today~
Hello Father! Thank You that we never get too far from You that You cannot hear us calling. Thank You for hearing and answering. For removing the power our enemies had over us and turning our thoughts back to You, the only one who matters. Thank You for our cave experiences and for the strength that we gain from them. Let our voice always be ready to share how You brought us out. Father, bless all today who are in the midst of their cave experience. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2023 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.