"Hello, Is Anyone Home?!"

I remember as a teen delivering newspapers and collecting the money the old fashioned way. I'd go up to a door, knock or ring the door bell. After thinking I'd heard someone, I'd call out, "Is anyone Home?!" Only to be disillusioned knowing I wouldn't get paid from them that week. After getting 5 or 6 "no homes" in a row, I'd often get discouraged, because I knew if I didn't collect the money, I wouldn't get paid. This scenario probably seems quite trivial compared to the situation the Israelites, David and King Saul were all facing in I Sam. 30 and 31. The Philistines were fighting against Israel and King Saul and pressing down "hard" on them. As a matter of fact, it was so bad King Saul saw little hope for his future, and so he fell on his sword, killing himself. His sons, including Jonathan, David's best friend, were already dead. Meanwhile, David and his army were in another part of the country and had just discovered that the Amalekites burned their city to the ground. Their wives and children were gone - the scriptures tell us they were taken captive, but, I'm sure by the way the men reacted, they didn't know that at the time. I Sam. 30:3,4 tells us that David and his men "cried aloud until there was NO strength to cry anymore." Pretty intense, huh? Well, I'm sure at this point David and his men were wondering if their God was anywhere to be found, you know, like "home?" To make matters worse, his men were talking about stoning David! I know we've had "low" points in our lives, and we've felt like we've had it bad, but imagine living in this situation. Talk about "throwing in the towel," this would have been a great time for it! However, although it may have seemed God's presence was no where to be found, the Bible tells us, "BUT David found strength in the Lord his God!" (30:6). David knocked on the door and found God "home," or rather, he realized God had been present the whole time........What about us? When it comes right down to you and me, do we remember how much God loves us and cares for us too much to leave us? If we call out to Him, we need not worry that He won't answer, for our God is ever present. So, you may be facing moments of darkness or insurmountable testing or temptation - turn to the trustworthiness of God's Word where Matthew shares with us, "...if we ask, seek, and knock, we will NOT be ignored," (7:7,8). OK, so what do we do now?...Well, go ahead and knock at the Lord's door, you won't have to scream, "IS ANYONE THERE?!" You'll always fin Him home!