How do you handle life’s major challenges? Where do you turn for help when your enemies overwhelm you?
Fear can be a major obstacle to our worship. I’ve been reading about the Christians who were slaughtered under Nero’s tyrannical reign. They didn’t fear for their lives, but placed their trust in the God who had already saved them. David did the same. Reflect with me…
These reflections come from 1 Samuel 17. If you haven’t heard it, you might listen to Take 6‘s version of this story:
David and Goliath – a story of faith
Many of us have heard about David and Goliath since we were old enough to sit in Sunday School. You can hear the headlines: Boy Defeats Giant With Single Stone. All the sermons I’ve ever heard have focused on staring down life’s giants with childlike faith. We can also see that God was preparing David to lead Israel in far greater battles where his faith would be his primary tool.
What I’ve never heard is a sermon contemplating what Goliath saw when he looked at David–that is until I heard my friend Asa’s sermon. We know that Goliath looked at David with contempt and defied David’s God. But if Goliath could have seen the real battle, what would he have seen? He would have realized that David was the giant on the battlefield. David was the one with impervious armor and the secret weapon of faith.
David could not fail in this seemingly impossible battle. Why? Because he understood that this wasn’t his battle, he was merely God’s servant. He also placed his confidence in the God who already delivered him from the lion and the bear. He knew it wasn’t his fighting skills or his battle know-how. His advantage came from knowing the God whose reputation had been sullied and whose power is unrivaled.
I don’t know what you’re facing today or this week. I know there are many situations that seem overwhelming and beyond me. There are people that intimidate me, goals that seem impossible and challenges beyond my control. Too often I enter these situations looking at my resources alone. Of course I’ll be found wanting.
In Christ I have a different set of resources. I am filled with the Holy Spirit. I am a child of the God of the universe. My big brother, Jesus, is sitting at the Father’s right hand praying for me – constantly. I am a member of the Body of Christ, with access to the world’s largest and most potent army. The angels of heaven are ready to be sent into battle. And there’s so much more…
Too often I stand against “Goliath” and dwell on how inadequate I am for the task. That’s true enough. But Christ has called me to dwell upon his sufficiency. That doesn’t mean I won’t lose some skirmishes. It does mean God will never fail and so I can rest in His sovereign purposes.
Another song that gives me hope in life’s battles comes from Keith & Kristyn Getty. It’s called By Faith.
How do you face life’s battles?