Hard Words for Hard Decisions

2 Sam 19 to 21 Have you ever come to a place where you must make a very hard decision but your heart hurts beyond all that you have ever faced? David found himself in that problem. He had decided to leave Jerusalem because of Absalom’s defection, but now that Absalom is dead, he needed to decide to remain where he was or return and take back his kingdom. As he sat in his borrowed house, grieving for his son, the nation was also in mourning. They needed a leader, and at this point, David was not that leader. Grief is one of those emotions that we find debilitating, or we find release. There is no middle ground. It helps a family to move forward or retreat into memories of what could have been. David was in the latter, and he needed a push to step up and make that hard decision. Joab’s words gave David that freedom to meet his nation’s needs—not just for himself. Joab’s hard words were just the medicine David needed because his emotions were leading the country astray. David’s priorities were misaligned. Joab told him if Absalom was alive and all of us were dead, he would be pleased.

Where are you today? Are you grieving the loss of someone precious? Beloved, as hard as it is, we must put aside our grief to meet the needs of those still in the land of the living. Ask God and other strong believers to help you in this difficult place.