'Goliaths' In Our Lives

Scripture: Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:38-40)

When I read this scripture recently, a couple of things came to mind about little David putting on Saul's helmet and armor, then strapping his sword over it all.

David wasn't yet a man, trained to go into battle and wear the proper gear of a soldier. But those over-sized garments represented his future, and all that God saw in him. Little did David know that one day he would grow up to be a warrior king. But the armor, helmet and sword were all yet too big and bulky on him. David still had much growing, learning and training ahead of him.

I believe God sees each of us in much the same way. He sees our potential, and sometimes we get a glimpse of what God wants us to be. If we aren't paying close enough attention, sometimes we miss the clues!

But David sloughed off the military gear and chose simpler, more "fitting" weaponry for a young man of his size and stature; his staff, five stones, a shepherd's bag and a sling. Not at all what a soldier would expect to go into battle with. But David was not a soldier yet, and wouldn't be for years to come. But he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that GOD was on his side. He drew upon his past experiences of GOD protecting him while he was tending his sheep: "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (vs. 37)

The next point that struck me was the extraordinary faith he had in God's ability to protect and shield him from harm! Furthermore, he knew exactly what the outcome between he and Goliath would be. When I read what David said to Goliath after Goliath fiercely insulted him, I really took in what David said. "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saved; for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give all of you into our hands. (vs. 45-47)

The last thing David declares is that his victory will be a witness to others, claiming no credit and taking no glory for himself, giving it all to God.

I have often heard sermons and read books that tell Christians to resolve their problems the way David treated Goliath. But I agree and disagree with that idea at the same time. In one sense, there is no problem in our lives greater than God that God cannot help us through. I believe that entirely. On the other hand, sometimes such problems cannot be solved with such a simple visual. Sometimes our battles are long and drawn out, and not resolved so quickly. And it is within those personal "battles" that God grows us up, gives us wisdom and teaches us about our own character - and His!

In the final analysis, ALL our battles belong to the Lord. Be they personal, financial, relational, physical or spiritual. It's not about how long it takes to resolve them. It's about our own relationship with the Lord, and how we choose to face the "Goliaths" in our lives. We can stand back and whimper on the other side of the ravine because he's just too big and scary, or we can stand firm, knowing within the very depths of our hearts, and souls, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty ..."

Imagine the witness we are to others when we stand upon that truth and operate in that kind of faith.

We are children of GOD. He is hugely invested in each of our lives. He knows the numbers of hairs on our head, He wove each of us in our mother's wombs. No amount of height or depth, not even life or death can separate us from the love of God. He wants nothing more for each of us than for us to be in relationship with Him, and within that relationship, to trust Him no matter what happens on this earth. Hardships are a necessary part of this world. But He is always there no matter what to carry us through them.

Prayer request: In these tough economic times, pray that all our relationships with the Lord increase. Instead of drawing away from Him, thinking He is distant and negligent, this is the time to draw ever closer to Him and watch Him move!

Prayer: Lord, we come to You humbly but confidently, knowing that You are invested in each of us intimately, and know our joys and struggles. Touch each reader right now, and help them to feel Your gentle presence in their lives. Remove the veils of any lies they may be believing that You are distant, cold and uncaring. Draw each one closer to You right now, and carry them through any hardships they are experiencing. Help us all to rely on You more and more each day. Make Your presence known to any who are not believers, but want to be. Amen