People get discouraged for different reasons. The children of Israel traced theirs to the difficult terrain through which they had to travel. “And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.” (Numbers 21:4 KJV). On another occasion, their discouragement was due to the bad reports that the ten spies brought to the camp. “Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.” (Deuteronomy 1:28 KJV). For David and his men, they were inconsolable because everything they had was carted away; the worst part being the loss of their wives and children. Put it in a stronger way, they not only lost the present, they lost the future as well; because that’s what their children represented.
Regardless of how discouragement comes, the result is always the same. The power to go on is taken away, and creativity is crippled. It is a scourge that must be overcome. David overcame by encouraging himself in the Lord. I believe that he did this by drawing on the promises and help of the Lord. He rested on God’s past help and His faithfulness to deal with the new challenge. In no time, he gained divine direction which led to the recovery of all that they lost. The same help is promised to every child of God. Never allow discouragement to overstay. Trust God for the needed steps to change the narrative.