A scene of unbearable pain, unspeakable grief and overflowing sorrow is captured in a wrenching phrase. In the 4^th verse: "Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep."

David’s fortunes were at their lowest ebb. To understand his position we must go a little farther back in his history. David did not need to be in Ziklag. The path to Ziklag started from a lack of trust. Worn out by the persecution of Saul, he left the country where he was so ill at ease, and he went away into the land of the Philistines, expecting there to escape from further turmoil, but instead encountered trials of a worse kind.

David's Ziklag experience contains a lesson that spans time and space, for out of the ashes of Ziklag's sorrow and despair rises the smoke of a lesson that speaks in a language so basic we all can understand. Ziklag in many ways is representative of life and thus conveys a message that speaks to us all: the message of "Ziklag 101."

That message of Ziklag 101 could be: There are times when life caves in and the bottom falls out.

"And they wept until they had no more power to weep." A time that may be announced by a telegram, a late night call, a physician’s conference, a test result, a circumstance where we wrestle with the brute facts of suffering and death. Where discouraged, disheartened, despondent, we struggle under the burden of private pain or unexpected affliction that literally turns our lives upside down.

That painful reality is decidedly disconcerting to many Christians, especially to the followers of the wealth and happiness doctrine, the comforting view that the Christian life means being protected from all adversity, forgetting that in John 16:33 Jesus promises, "in the world you will have trouble." The fact is the Christian life does not insulate against a Ziklag reality. Piety is no guarantee of preferential treatment or easy passage, whether it’s at Jerusalem, Samaria, Ziklag, Chicago, or Orlando. Relative is the location. The reality is the experience of pillows wet with tears, sleepless nights, difficult days. Times when life caves in and the bottom falls out. Times described by my forefathers. Unlike Webster's description of trouble as a "restricted, narrow, cramped place," they said it’s "being between a rock and a hard place."

As the scripture records, "David was greatly distressed." His city was burnt, his wives were gone, the sons and daughters of his comrades were all captive, and Ziklag, where they had made a home, smoked before them in blackened ruins. If the message of Ziklag 101 is, there are times when life caves in and the bottom falls out, it cannot be debated or denied. But trace the story further, in the 6th verse of that 30^th chapter, "and David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters." It appears the message of Ziklag 101 could be: There are times when long-time loyalties can fall victim to the "blame game."

How revealing that David and his warriors could not find comfort in each other, commiserating in their common misery. Instead, Scripture reveals in place of comfort, David found blame. "The men of war, wounded in heart, mutinied against their leader, and were ready to stone him."

There is something about human nature: the need to blame is as old as mankind. The "blame game " is a universal thread running through human experience. You can count on it: hurting, pressured people look for someone to blame and stones to throw. I couldn’t help but be struck by the interaction between long-time associates, Ford and Firestone, during the spiraling tire controversy.

While it is true there are times when life caves in and the bottom falls out, it is also true, there are times when long-time loyalties can fall victim to the "blame game." However the greater truth of Ziklag 101 is there is no time when God is not sufficient to provide all you need.

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters; but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God."

He turned to the relationship he had always relied on. He found strength in the Lord his God.

And this emphasizes David's intimate relationship with the one who from the beginning had always been with him. The strength he needed then, only God could provide. The secret of strength when the world is crumbling about us is in calling on God.

While the path to Ziklag started with a lack of trust in God, the path out of the Ziklag experience started with a renewed trust in God. The God who, in spite of David's feeble faith and trembling trust, responded to David's cry and his need. That loving God will respond to your cry and your need. For a sobering truth is, right now you may be at the Ziklag of your life. You may not need to imagine the worst thing that may happen—it’s happening now. Others may not be aware but you feel ankle deep in ashes. The path to your Ziklag might be different but the ashes swirl about your feet.

Hear the core message of Ziklag 101: When the bottom falls out, underneath are the everlasting arms. When longtime loyalties fall victim to the "blame game," he is the friend who sticketh closer than a brother; one who will never leave you or forsake you. Whatever the circumstance, the powerfully, compelling, encouraging truth is, like David, you can find strength and guidance in the Lord your God.

Initially, David and his warriors, like us, focused on what was lost instead of what was left: the Lord his God. So then, instead of permitting his mind to dwell upon these painful circumstances, he looked earnestly to God for help. He "encouraged himself in the Lord," the Lord his God, the Lord who didn't forsake him to the lion, or to the bear, nor to the giant.

He reviewed his past eventful life and his soul was refreshed, realizing that yes, there are times when life caves in and the bottom falls out. And there are times when long-time loyalties can fall victim to the "blame game." But the truth of Ziklag 101 is there is no time when God is not sufficient to provide all you need.

The old gospel song says it well:

"When waves of affliction sweep over your soul and sunlight is hidden from view;

Whenever you're tempted to fret or complain just think of his goodness to you.

Just think of his goodness to you, just think of his goodness to you.

And when storms o’er you sweep, he is able to keep;

Just think of his goodness to you."

Benjamin Reaves: Yes I have.

Talbot: When?

Reaves: Quite frankly, I experienced it very recently with the death of my sister. And it seemed as if in such a sudden way, that literally life had caved in and the bottom had fallen out. But even prior to that, at other times. And it is true for us all. There are those difficult, unexpected disasters.

Talbot: Your sister, Edith, who died in hospice care?

Reaves: That’s correct.

Talbot: How did the grace of God -- the goodness he has done for you, as you say -- help you through that, and help her through that?

Reaves: Well, in two ways specifically. One, it helped in that the family looked to me for the eulogy and the planning of the funeral. But then it also helped because in ministering to her while she was still alive—as is always so true—I was ministering to myself. And in those last moments for her, we were able to stand around the bedside, join hands, and sing the songs of the faith: What a Friend We Have in Jesus, Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine.

Talbot: Ben, you work for a hospital system. You are in that world where there is so much pain and suffering, people facing death. How does a spiritual understanding help with the medical healing?

Reaves: In many ways. In fact, some of the recent science makes it very clear that it has a healing affect on the patient. But in addition, it also brings a sense of peace of comfort for the patient and for the family when the spiritual intervention is a part of the medical intervention.

Talbot: How can people who are facing illness, even terminal illness, be in touch with that reality when perhaps they feel cynical and angry at God?

Reaves: One of the things that’s very important for chaplains and other pastoral care givers is to know the person’s story, more than just a name or a number. Know the story, talk to the family, find out the background. And many times there are intersections of life where the connection can be made that you are not forgotten, someone loves you and cares for you, and God has you in his hands.

Talbot: And the message that God is always with you, that’s an unconditional presence.

Reaves: Yes.

Talbot: God cannot prevent the tragedy, but God stands with us in it.

Reaves: He will see us through.

Talbot: Ben, you concluded your message with an old gospel song, "when waves of affliction sweep over our soul...think of the goodness he has done."

Reaves: That’s correct. Yes.

Talbot: How did that song come to you?

Reaves: Out of my family history. I grew up in a family where family worship was a part of life and singing the songs: the gospel songs, the hymns of the church.