Life isn’t always easy. Just humor me for a second because it’s most likely true for all of us today. We’re facing a giant. Or, maybe a lot of giants. We’ve been introduced to a virus we’ve never heard of before. We’re struggling with boredom. We’re on edge from isolation. We’re up at night with loneliness. Many of us are stressed. Some of us aren’t eating, while some of us can’t stop eating. There may be a lot of giants we’re facing right now.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites faced one imposing giant. He was a Philistine named Goliath. If that kind of name doesn’t make you take him seriously then consider that he was over nine feet tall wearing a coat that weighed about 125 pounds and carrying a spear that was so large that just the tip of it weighed 15 pounds. And he liked to trash-talk. He challenged Israel to a fight-to-the death match with the winner getting the loser as servants. He’s a champion so he knows what he’s doing. And the Israelites? Well, they’re scared to death. Goliath was Israel’s giant. Let’s take a closer look at the story and see what we can learn about facing our giants today.
Confront the giant.
Sitting in fear and not doing anything was not an option for the Israelites. The more they were intimidated the harder the problem became for them to handle. It was time to do something! So a shepherd boy named David stepped forward. David asked the men standing near him, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26, NIV) I just love David’s attitude here: “Who does this giant think he is to speak against the armies of God like this?” This giant is not only mocking the armies of God but he is mocking God Himself. David decided it was time to stand up and fight. David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” (1 Samuel 17:32, NIV) David had had enough. It was time to stop ignoring the giant and confront him once-and-for-all.
If you don’t confront your personal giants they can freeze you in fear. They can impede your spiritual growth. They can ruin your relationships and push away those who love you the most. At some point you’ve got to decide you’re not going to ignore the giant and take care of him once-and-for-all. There’s always hope when you decide to confront a giant you face. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:35&37, NIV) We aren’t just conquerors. We are more than conquerors! You can defeat the giants you’re facing through the power of Christ! The first step is confronting the giant.
Focus on God’s faithfulness.
As you confront your giant remember what God has done for you in the past and focus on His faithfulness. Let’s be real for a second…no one had any confidence in David’s ability to defeat Goliath. Look at what Saul tells David: “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.” (1 Samuel 17:33, NIV) Evidently Saul missed the day they covered pep-talks in leadership training. But, David didn’t really need a pep-talk because he knew he wasn’t going to do it on his own. David lets Saul know that while he’s been keeping his father’s sheep God has helped him kill a lion and a bear. David remembers what God has done for him. “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 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.” (1 Samuel 17:36&37, NIV) I just love the confidence of David here: “I’ve killed a lion, I’ve killed a bear, and now I’m about to kill a Philistine.” David is focusing on God’s faithfulness.
The God who has proven Himself to you in the past will be there to deliver you in the future. Take a moment right now and just pause. Don’t focus on the giant in front of you right now. Just think back to some of the other giants. What did God do for you? How was He faithful? How did He prepare you for the giant you’re facing today? Take a moment and remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness.
Allow God to bring the victory.
David knew that a giant of this magnitude would not be defeated by human weaponry and skill. God was going to be responsible for the victory. So, rather than getting all dressed up in the typical battle armor here’s what David does: …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 17:40, NIV) I always want to shout out: “David, the champion is nine feet tall! You’re going to need more than a slingshot and five smooth stones!” And then David reminds me that the battle isn’t really up to him. He shouts to Goliath: “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 saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:46&47, NIV) David knows exactly where the victory is going to come from.
Goliath begins to attack, and that was a mistake. As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground. (1 Samuel 17:48&49, NIV) Do not miss what happens here. With God on your side you don’t need five smooth stones to kill a giant…you only need one! David won because he and the Lord were doing it together. Now look at the giant you’re facing right now. Give the giant to Him. The giant staring you down right now can only be defeated as you and the Lord do it together. Don’t try to win without Him, but let Him bring the victory.
I love this piece I came across several years ago: When I fall, He lifts me up! When I confess failure, He forgives! When I am weak, He is strong! When I am lost, He is the way! When I am afraid, He is my courage! When I stumble, He steadies me! When I am hurt, He heals me! When I am broken, He mends me! When I am blind, He leads me! When I am hungry, He feeds me! When I face trials, He is with me! When I face persecution, He shields me! When I face problems, He comforts me! When I face loss, He provides for me! When I face death, He carries me Home!
With Him you can’t lose!
Brad
