Defeating Your Giants

In life, there are problems, and then there are Problems. Some challenges we face seem monstrous, don't they? Well, today's conversation with God is just what we need to hear when up against an intimidating situation. God's word to us is coming from 1 Samuel 17. It's right there for you and a great read!

After God made a big point yesterday about the need to get our hearts right, today I hear him call me to a stronger faith. The description of David's problem is distant but familiar to me. I haven't ever faced a mammoth warrior one-on-one before, but I have stood in the shadow of some pretty threatening fears. King Saul's words to David expose my own negative self-talk:

"You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him! You are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth!" (v. 33)

God, that's where I have occasionally found myself--rehearsing the reasons why I can't deal with some looming situation or seemingly insurmountable problem or challenge. Sometimes the fears and doubts that creep into my mind are even bigger than the situation itself. I hate those feelings of helplessness.

For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. (v. 16)

That's a long time to be intimidated by the same problem! That's much too long to be stuck, paralyzed by some threat that seems way too big to overcome. Forty days they stood around in fear, unable to act. I may have let certain fears of my own torment me for longer than that!

I hear you reminding me through this story that acting on my faith is what is most needed. Faith will give me courage when I otherwise would be crouching in fear, wishing the problem away.

Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. . . . David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him." (v. 11, 32)

God, it wasn't that David was any stronger or fiercer than all the soldiers, was it? This isn't a Hollywood flick. David wasn't secretly a super ninja. He just really trusted you. The others were engrossed in the problem while he was focused on you. Maybe I need to spend more time alone praying and praising you like David was accustomed to doing and less time soaking in the limited human perspective that saturates my world. I see that faith will give me more courage when others are afraid. And I also see that faith will enable me to step forward and confront the problem head on.

. . . with his sling in his hand, David approached the Philistine. (v. 40)

That's usually the hardest part--that first step forward staring that problem or challenge right in the eyes. There's a time when fears have to be laid aside and I have to decide that I'm not going to let that fear intimidate me anymore. Faith in you, God, will get me out of paralysis mode. And it will give me victory.

David said, "...All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's" . . . So David triumphed over the Philistine . . . He ran and stood over him. (v. 47, 50-51)

No sane person would have thought David had a chance against Goliath . . . unless they knew David's God. Lord, the battle is yours! You will give your servants victory when their faith is in you. I know that not every situation will go as we want it to, but you have assured us of ultimate triumph. No problem is too big for you. No challenge is impossible to overcome. I can find myself standing over that fallen problem. I will use the faith that I have in you to take on and defeat my own personal giants. Amen.

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