“But David thought to himself, ‘One of these days I will be destroyed by the hand of Saul. The best thing I can do is to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will give up searching for me anywhere in Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.’”—1 Samuel 27:1 (NIV)

By this point in David’s life, he had seen God come through in remarkable ways—defeating Goliath, protecting him from Saul’s spears, providing food and shelter in the wilderness. But now, after years of running and surviving, something shifts for a season. 

David stops praying. He stops seeking God’s will and instead thinks to himself, One of these days, Saul’s going to kill me. It’s a moment of fear, of exhaustion . . . a moment where faith fades into the background and survival instincts take the wheel. And this moment, which set “itself up against the knowledge of God,” turned into a season. 

David fled to Philistine territory—Ziklag—and lived under the protection of Achish, a foreign king. For sixteen months, David lied, compromised, and blended in with his enemies to stay safe. And while it seemed to work on the surface as Saul did indeed stop chasing him, this was not a season of flourishing. It was a season of self-reliance and spiritual silence. David became someone who was simply trying to survive. 

Now believe it or not, David wasn’t the only one in Scripture who had a “Ziklag” moment. Abraham, the father of faith, lied—twice—saying Sarah was his sister to save himself. David had already compromised and lied to the priests at Nob earlier in his journey, and it led to the slaughter of innocent men. Peter denied Jesus three times. John the Baptist, once so confident, the man of whom Jesus said, “among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11 NIV) later asked from prison if Jesus was the one or if humanity should expect someone else. And then there’s the story of a desperate father whose son was demon-possessed. He looked at Jesus and cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24 NJKV)! Even the disciples doubted, scattered, and locked themselves in a room after Jesus died.

That phrase sums up what so many of us experience. We do believe. We’ve seen God move. We’ve watched Him provide. We’ve witnessed miracles in our lives and the lives of others. But still . . . fear creeps in, doubt whispers, and weariness piles up. And sometimes, like David, we stop seeking God and start leaning on ourselves—we enter survival mode. We know what should do, but it’s easier to settle for survival. This line of thinking always leads to compromise and spiritual dryness. 

We all have the capacity to flee to Ziklag, to run away instead of resting in God, to compromise instead of trusting—to lie, hide, and turn inward instead of upward. And here’s the thing: We don’t always make that choice out of rebellion. Sometimes we do it out of fear, fatigue, confusion, or grief. Because honestly, life is hard. Waiting is hard. Trusting God when nothing is changing (when you feel cornered, helpless, and can’t see a way forward) is hard. 

This isn’t an excuse—it’s a reality check. If David, Abraham, Peter, and John the Baptist could waver, who are we to think we’re safe from a prolonged trip to Ziklag? But here’s the hope: God doesn’t abandon those who stumble! He didn’t leave David in Ziklag, He didn’t give up on Abraham or Peter, He didn’t dismiss John for doubting, and He won’t leave you, either.

In fact, God often meets us most powerfully after Ziklag. Sometimes it’s through gentle correction. Other times it’s through rock-bottom moments where we realize we have nothing left but Him (like the prodigal son). But again and again, He draws us back, restores us, and renews our faith. 

So maybe you’re in Ziklag right now. Maybe you’re running on fumes, doing what you can to survive, not sure where God is in it all. Maybe you’ve tried taking matters into your own hands. Hear this: God’s still with you. He still has purpose for you. And when you turn to Him—even with shaky, imperfect faith—and say, “I believe; help my unbelief,” He responds with grace. When you humble yourself before the Lord, “he will lift you up” (James 4:10 NIV).

Pause: Where are you tempted to rely on yourself instead of trusting God? Are there ways you’ve been living in “Ziklag” recently?

Practice: Write out a simple prayer like the one the father in Mark 9 prayed. Say it aloud today: “I believe. Help my unbelief.” Be honest about where you’re struggling, and invite God back into those places.

Pray: Jesus, I believe . . . but I also doubt. I trust You . . . but I get afraid. I know who You are and what You’ve done . . . but I have a tendency to forget. Forgive me for the moments I’ve taken things into my own hands. Thank You for never leaving me. Strengthen my faith, redirect my heart, and lead me daily to Your peace. I pray this in Your precious and holy name. Amen.