by Stephen Judd
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Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” And in 1 Samuel 30, we read that “David recovered all.”
I have a profound dislike for thieves. Most of us do. If you’ve ever had something stolen—a home broken into, a car burglarized, or something taken that belonged to you—you understand the frustration. The reality is, most stolen things can be replaced. A year later, you hardly even think about them.
But there is a kind of theft that is far more serious—a kind of stealing that doesn’t show up on an insurance claim. It’s spiritual.
Satan is driven by envy. He wants what we have—but not our possessions. He’s not after your house, your car, or your investments. He’s after what matters most—things of eternal significance, things that have value with God. And if we’re not careful, we can begin to accept what we should be resisting.
That’s why this message is so simple and so important: it’s time to take it back.
You were never meant to settle for what the enemy has taken from you. Through the power of God, you can recover all.
We see this truth clearly in the life of David.
A Pattern in the Life of David
In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men returned to their home in Ziklag only to find it burned to the ground. Their wives, their children, and everything they owned had been taken. The Bible says they wept until they had no more strength to weep. And then, in their grief, the very men who followed David began to turn against him.
But in that moment, something shifted.
“David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
He didn’t deny the pain. He didn’t pretend everything was okay. But he made a decision—he would not stay there. He turned to God.
That is always the turning point.
When you refuse to stay where the loss left you…when you turn your heart back toward God… something begins to change.
Then David did something critical—he inquired of the Lord. God gave him clear direction: pursue, overtake, and recover all.
So David and his men got up and went after what had been taken. They refused to sit in the ashes. They refused to accept the loss as final.
And in the end, the Bible says, “David recovered all.” Nothing was missing. Nothing was lost. Everything was restored.
And not only that—they came back with more.
They didn’t just recover… they returned greater than before.
That story isn’t just history—it’s a pattern.
The same enemy that came after David is still at work today. And he is still after what matters most.
What the Enemy Is After
First, he targets your PURPOSE.
When purpose is lost, people drift. They begin to question why they’re here. They try to fill that void with success, achievement, or distraction—but nothing satisfies. God created us to know Him, serve Him, and find fulfillment in Him.
When that awareness fades, calling begins to fade.
Maybe there was a time when you felt a clear sense of direction—something God placed in your heart. But disappointment came. Discouragement set in. And little by little, that sense of calling felt less real.
But here’s the truth:
Your purpose isn’t gone.
It may feel buried… it may feel dormant… but it’s not dead.
And with God’s help, you can take it back.
Second, the enemy goes after your PASSION.
You can still believe in God. You can still attend church. You can still serve. But something can change on the inside.
That fire you once had—the hunger for God, the love for His presence—can begin to cool.
Jesus addressed this in Revelation 2 when He spoke to the church at Ephesus. They were doing many things right, but He said, “You have left your first love.”
Their activity remained… but their passion had faded.
The solution was simple but powerful:
Remember. Repent. Return.
And the good news is—passion can be restored.
That fire can burn again.
Third, the enemy tries to steal your FAITH.
Over time, disappointment can erode your confidence in God. You still believe in Him—but you stop expecting Him to move.
You still pray… but it becomes routine instead of reality.
You still believe… but without anticipation.
Faith can quietly shift from something living and active… to something distant and passive.
But Scripture reminds us:
“Without faith it is impossible to please Him… for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Faith is what moves you to trust again… to pray again… to step out again.
And the truth is simple:
God hasn’t changed.
He is still able.
He is still working.
He is still answering prayer.
If the enemy can weaken your faith, he doesn’t have to stop God—he only has to stop you from believing God.
But faith can come back.
Confidence can return.
Expectation can rise again.
Finally, the enemy works to steal your JOY.
The Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Joy is not the same as happiness.
Happiness depends on happenings. Joy depends on Jesus.
The prophet Joel described joy as something that withers—not all at once, but slowly and quietly.
You can still be faithful… still be doing the right things… and yet feel heavy on the inside.
But God never intended for us to live that way.
Jesus said, “Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Joy is not just something you talk about. It’s something you step into.
And it can be restored.
It’s Time to Take It Back!
So the question becomes personal:
What has been taken from you?
Is it your purpose?
Your passion?
Your faith?
Your joy?
The same God who helped David recover all is still at work today. What the enemy has stolen, God is able to restore.
There comes a moment when something rises up inside of you and you say—
Enough already.
– Enough drifting.
– Enough settling.
– Enough living below what God has promised.
The enemy does not have the final say.
God does.
And with His help— it’s time to take it back.
