Seventy-Two Hours

  And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 1 Samuel 30:2–4 ESV
David stood amidst the burned ashes of his city with tears running down his face. Though he was anointed as king years ago, he had been running from Saul ever since and now while the men were away, Amaekites had burned the city and carried off all of their wives and children. Now his own men were talking of stoning him to death. This was a difficult time for David. One that would break most men, but he strengthened himself in God (1 Sam 30:6).
In seventy-two hours, everything changed (2 Sam 1:2). With God’s help, David rescued their families and recovered all (1 Sam 30:18). Saul was killed in a battle with the Philistines (1 Sam 31:3). They made David king over Judah (2 Sam 2:4). The breakthrough was so close and things that had not changed for years, were now only hours away. David did not know this and if he had given up and fallen on his sword, he would have missed the greatest years of his life.
It is always darkest right before the breakthrough. The battle becomes so intense that you want to quit, but hang on. You are closer than ever to seeing the promises of God fulfilled in your life. A lot can change in seventy-two hours.