Like David, most all of us have experienced constant stress. For much of his younger adulthood, David was pursued by Saul who sought to kill him. He became the king of a nation that endured wars, giants, national problems, famine, to name a few. His family problems were horrendous. Sibling rivalry looked petty compared to the soap opera of David's family. This guy was a potential psychiatric patient. Stress can break even the sturdiest of hearts. David had an antidote—a trust in a living God. This was the controlling factor in his life.

David composed a song that began, "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge. My shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, You save me from violence. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I was saved from my enemies” (2 Sam. 22:1-4). David's basic philosophy for dealing with the problems and frustrations of life stated, "I pray. I trust. I keep moving.”

In "Overheard in an Orchard,” Elizabeth Cheney expressed it like this:

Said the Robin to the Sparrow:
"I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.” Said the Sparrow to the Robin:
"Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no heavenly Father,
Such as cares for you and me.”

What about you? How do you stand the test of life's battles? Do you get stressed out or trust in God? The battles of life will come. Count on it. But use it to bring your heart closer to the Savior. Hudson Taylor wrote, "It doesn't matter how great the pressure is. What really matters is where the pressure lies—whether it comes between you and God or whether it presses you nearer his heart.” Is the pressure of life drawing you toward the Savior or pushing you away? Now that’s something to think about.