This is a summary of my message on 12-5-2010; "It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now." 
       Country group "Lady Antebellum" has a hit song entitled "Need You Now."  The lyrics are;
      "It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now.  I said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now.
      And I don't know what I can do without I just need you now."
     
      Those lyrics speak to us where we are.  Most of us have, at times in our lives felt all alone.  That's a little difficult to comprehend in a world with billions of people and technology that allows us to connect like never before.  Yet, we still deal with loneliness.  So, what do you do when you feel "all alone."
      I Samuel 30:6 says "David strengthened himself in  the Lord."  David & his men had just returned from battle and discovered the city of Ziklag had been raided.  As a result of this, David's men wanted to stone him.  So, David is hurting but who does he turn to?  There wasn't anyone!  So, David "strengthened himself in the Lord." 
      In this text we see several things;
      I.  The Problems He Faced.
       The city of Ziklag had been raided.  Two of David's wives had been taken.  David was hurting.  He was going through a very difficult time. 
       You may be hurting.  As Christmas approaches, our pain can be more pronounced.  For many people, Christmas is not a festive time, but instead, it's a challenging time.
       I find myself feeling that way some this year.  My Dad has Parkinson's and is in a nursing home.  Christmas for our family will not be the same this year.  Now, we  certainly aren't the only ones facing what may be a tough Christmas... many people are.  You may not be looking  forward to Chrismas and if so, you aren't alone. 
     II.  The Pain David Experienced. 
      I Samuel 30:4 says "David..... wept until there was no strength in them left to weep."  Have you ever been there?  Most of us have experienced some pain.  Perhaps you can identify with David; you have cried until you were tired of crying. 
     David cried "until there was no strength in him to cry.." 
     All around us, people are hurting.  People are living with and trying to deal with difficult times in life. 
     And let me add something here; the church needs to do a better job of helping people who  are hurting.  Sometimes, someone can be hurting and we may say "I'm praying for you."  Now, let me be clear; PRAYER IS IMPORTANT.  I'm not diminishing the importance of prayer.  However, there are times when God wants us to hug someone or help someone. 
     "Rascall Flatts", a country-music group, has a song that speaks to the importance of helping someone who is hurting.  Part of the lyrics of the song  read like this;
     "You think your lost, But your not lost on your own, Your not alone,
      I will stand by you, I will help you through, When you’ve done all you can do
      If you can’t cope I will dry your eyes I will fight your fight
      I will hold you tight And I wont let go."

      I like the words... "I will stand by you.. I will help you through... when you've done all you can do.."
     That's a secular song but, it's an excellent description of how Christians should encourage one  another. 
     When a person is hurting, we need to stand by them.. help them through.

      III.  The Power David Found
      "David strengthened himself in the Lord."  Practically, how did David do this?  I think David remembered the times when Jehovah had been with him in the past and he knew that Jehovah God would be with him in the present. 
      If you are hurting today, Jesus wants to give you strength.     
      Robert Louis Stevenson told the story of a ship tossed in a storm. The sea was rough and the rocky coast perilous. Danger was real and one frantic sailor who was laboring below the water line could contain himself no longer. He rushed to the control room, closed the door behind himself, and stood frozen in fright watching the captain wrestle with the controls of the huge ship.   
     Skill of mind and strength of hand enabled the captain to guide the vessel through the threatening rocks into open water. The Captain turned slightly, looked at the frightened sailor, and smiled. The youth returned below deck and assured the crew all danger was over. When they inquired how he knew, he answered. “I have seen the face of the Captain, and he smiled at me.
      Are you hurting today?  If you are, Jesus wants to look  you in the eyes, and with a smile, assure You that He loves You and wants to help You.  Be assured of this; It doesn't matter what you have done.. it doesn't matter how badly you may have messed up... Jesus loves you as you are and wants to help  you. 
     You may feel like it's a quarter after one and you feel alone.  If so, Jesus meets you in the middle of the night.