“The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”-1 Samuel 17:37, NLT
We all know the story of David and Goliath. It tells the ages-old underdog tale of a scrawny, ruddy-complected shepherd boy slaying a giant who, although his height is disputed among theologians and historians, was undoubtedly a frightful force to be reckoned with. This legendary story is so celebrated and frequently retold not only because of its triumphant, against-all-odds ending, but also because of its overflowing application for our own underdog scenarios.
Our lives will never have a shortage of giants. On the contrary, scripture promises that we will experience persecution, trials, storms and sorrows – giants, if you will[1]. The question, then, isn’t if we’ll face them, but how…
When David boldly approached King Saul to tell him he’d fight Goliath, the king found his audacity ridiculous, as anyone in their right mind would while peering down at a silly boy who’d spent his childhood playing soldier with sticks on a Bethlehem hillside. But while David might have been an unimpressive boy, he was also a formidable warrior who fought with the strength of the Lord.
David persisted in the face of Saul’s doubt and derision by relaying to him all of the miniature battles he’d already won. When a lion or bear threatened a lamb in his flock, he went after the beast with a club and rescued the helpless animal. If the predator continued after him, he would take it by the jaw and beat club it to death. He knows the power and protection of God first-hand and will trust Him to give him victory over his fiercest foe yet.
This is the strategy we must employ when Goliaths interrupt our lives with boastful shouts of supremacy and threats of enslavement. The same God who came to our aid in the minor skirmish last week will be at our side during next month’s major attack. The same God who comforted our souls while we sat at the bedside of a dying loved one will give us peace in the midst of our enemies. The same God who placed a rainbow in the sky the second you needed a ray of hope will send a brilliant, full-blown miracle bursting through your darkest hour.
Don’t let the Sauls inside your head tell you you’re ill-equipped to fight Goliath. Remember what God has done for you and replace all thoughts of fear with declarations of faith.
Remember: With God on your side, all it takes is one smooth, faith-propelled stone to slay the giant.
