Wrong. I'm not talking about physical giants. I'm talking about those giants that we as Christians face on a daily basis. They can be circumstances, things, people, habits, emotions, etc. that are hindering us from walking with our Lord and living a fearless and victorious Christian life. I discovered some amazing insights this morning as I was reading 1 Samuel 17:37-50 and these are what I'd like to share. 1 Samuel 17 is a vivid account of the day when Goliath and the Philistines were defeated by the Israelites. The story of David and Goliath.
What can giants (circumstances, things, people, habits, emotions, etc. that hinder us from following God) do to us? The same thing Goliath did to Saul and the whole Israelite army. It paralyzed them. They were too afraid to move or even fight. The giants in our own lives have the same effect. We become afraid of facing them. We become temporarily paralyzed and unable to live out the victorious and abundant Christian life that Jesus promised us (John 10:10)
As such, our growth as Christians is delayed /slowed down. Not stopped or stunted but merely slowed down because I am confident that He who began a good work in all of us will be faithful to complete it (Philippians 1:6). We have Jesus to thank for that now. Back then, the Israelites had David.
As I was going through the chapter, I could not help but be amazed at the courage David had. Seasoned warriors were quaking in their boots, paralyzed by fear and yet here was a frail young shepherd with more than enough courage for a whole army. I want to have that kind of courage, don't you? The next question then is where did it come from and how did David get it?
David's courage could have only come from God. Many times in the passage we find this to be true whenever he says that Goliath was "taunting God" or "fighting the armies of the living God". It wasn't between David and Goliath. David was but a necessary instrument to accomplish God's will. David knew this and this was the foundation of his courage. The foundation of his courage comes from knowing what side he is on and who his commander-in-chief is. He is on the side of the living God.
As Christians facing the giants in our own lives, we are on the same side as David was. We are on the side of the one, true and living God. In fact, we have become His children and heirs by adoption (John 1:12; Galatians 4:6-7). I've come to realize that whenever I need courage to face the giants in my life, the first thing I need to do is remind myself of my relationship with God--my Father. After all, if God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31). Only then can I find the strength to face my giants. By coming to my knees and confessing to my God that there still are "giants" in my life and I need his forgiveness, strength and courage to face and overcome them.
Now we know where we to get our courage from. The next interesting part of the passage that struck me and that I would like to share is in verse 37. After David bravely agreed to face the giant Goliath, the people around him (Saul) doubted that he could do it and to an extent we could even say that they ridiculed him. This morning as I read, David's response in verse 37 I shuddered and water started welling up in my eyes, a lump formed in my throat and eventually tears rolled down my face. Allow me to quote a portion of verse 37: "And David said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, He will deliver from the hand of this Philistine..."
What a statement of faith! Not far from the statement that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego made in Daniel 3:17-18.
I am moved to tears because David's example reminds me to draw courage and have faith from the countless times in the past where I experienced God's own power and faithfulness in my life.
This reminds me that courage and faith must always go together. Faith is strengthened when we call to mind / remember the faithfulness of God to us. How he has delivered us and worked miracles and blessed us in the past.
In facing up to the giants in our lives there will be times when we will have doubt, be discouraged by others, ridiculed even. When this happens Christian, TAKE HEART AND HAVE FAITH! For other men of God have faced the same challenge and overcome. What an honor and privilege it is to stand on the same battleground where they stood.
So if you are facing or about to face giants in your life today, stand fast. Stand tall. Stand proud. Take heart. You are in the ranks of the great men and women of God and God is powerful and faithful to deliver and give you the victory!
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