WHEN YOU’RE IN A CAVE…

Series: Giant Slayer | Pastor Chris Fullam

Text: 1 Samuel 22:1–2; Psalm 34

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (1) David departed from there (Gath) and escaped to the Cave of Adullam.  And when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him.  (2) And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him.  And he became commander over them.  And there were with him about four hundred men.

Nothing will test your faith like when your reality doesn’t match what God promised.

Cave seasons are where we are tempted to question what we were once confident God said.

The cave is not where God abandoned David; the cave is where God began forming David.

What do I do if I’m in a cave season? 

1. PUT FEAR WHERE IT BELONGS 

Bring your fears to God, don’t hide them from Him. 

Psalm 56:3 — When I’m afraid, I will put my trust in you.

Faith is not the absence of fear…it’s knowing where to take your fear.

How do I put fear where it belongs?   

+ Talk to God honestly

+ Read the word 

+ Pray

+ Journal 

1 Peter 5:7 — Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.

Psalm 34:4 — I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me.  He freed me from all my fears.

God cannot heal what we refuse to reveal. 

You don’t need polished prayers in the cave… you just need honest ones.

2. PRAISE BEFORE THE CHANGE 

Worship God before your situation changes. 

Psalm 34:1 — I will bless the Lord at ALL times…

Worship is not a reward for good seasons…it’s fuel for hard seasons.

When you find yourself in a cave, choose to…

+ Worship

+ Thank God

+ Remember what He’s done

Worship doesn’t change your situation first…it changes you first.

3. BURY WHAT DOESN’T BELONG

Allow God to deal with what He wants to bury. 

James 4:10 — Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

The cave is where God removes things that crowns can’t carry.

If we don’t bury our pride in the cave, it’ll destroy us on the throne.

God is less concerned with how fast you get out of the cave than He is with who you become in the cave!

If you rush out of the cave, you may carry into your future what was supposed to die in your past.

4. DON’T DO IT ALONE 

Don’t isolate yourself… welcome the community God builds. 

1 Samuel 22:2 Everyone who was distressed, in debt, and discontented gathered to him…

Caves are not where God abandons you…they’re where God forms you.