One of the most well-known stories of the Old Testament is the story of David facing Goliath (I Samuel 17). David was just a kid delivering some food to his brothers (who were soldiers), and he ended up squaring off against a seasoned warrior – usually described as a giant. It’s a great story that’s often used to encourage little ones that they can still do mighty things.
One of our daughters is a bit on the small side in comparison with her peers, but she is by far the fiercest child we have. As a seven-year-old, she squared off against her four older guy cousins (a couple of them teenagers). They had been tasked with some yard work, so there were shovels and rakes in hand – the throwdown would have been epic had it not been for an adult seeing the potential bloodbath and deciding to intervene before a shovel was swung.
Another time she went down the biggest waterslide at The Great Wolf Lodge (the Tornado), and it terrified her. But before the day was over, she told me that she wanted to ride it again so she wouldn’t be afraid of it. She rode it three more times. She’s not fearless, but she’s learned that she can’t let fear cause her to do or experience less.
We clipped the wings of our chickens recently, and she decided that she wanted to help. She was afraid and screamed through the rapid flapping of the wings as she took hold of their legs. She screamed, but she didn’t let go. One of the many things I love about her is that she plows through her fear. She stands her ground with shovel in hand. She doesn’t deny what she’s afraid of, but she doesn’t let fear control her decisions or actions.
Goliath was an impressive foe. His size was formidable, of course, but he was also known as a champion. I think he was also a fairly skilled manipulator. In all his years of fighting, he most likely learned what fed the fear in his opponents. He knew what to say and how to say it. He didn’t initially attack with a sword, but instead with his words by calling the Israelites servants of Saul while he was a champion (I Samuel 17:8).
He came out every day for 40 days (I Samuel 17:16), taunting… stoking the fire of fear that had been sparked in the hearts of the Israelite army. He had everyone believing that his grand size mattered – that their small size made them matter not. He had them forgetting about the size of God.
Isn’t that how the enemy does it? He plants those seeds of doubt and insecurities to immobilize us. This problem is far too big for little ‘ol you… why would you think you deserve to survive this diagnosis… there’s no hope in standing united when I’ve divided you so easily… I can cut through you like a knife through butter…
Whether it’s a relationship on the rocks, feeling that you’re drowning in debt, a terminal diagnosis, feelings of isolation and anxiety, or a massive satanic baby-eating pedophile ring, I guarantee that the enemy is stoking the fire. He’s taunting us every time we turn on the news, pull up social media, or read another newly released file of his evil deeds.
But all it takes is a child of God to stand up with their shovel in hand. Not in the confidence of their size, but in the confidence of a victory that has already been won. David stood on the battlefield and didn’t see a giant. He saw an uncircumcised Philistine who dared to defy those who belonged to the living God (I Samuel 17:26). That’s Old Testament smack-talk for you.
All of this evil that we’re facing – the enemy poking at us every single day – he has already been defeated! But the enemy doesn’t want you to see that. He doesn’t want you to recognize that we stand in overwhelming victory. We’re not meant to be struggling to survive… we’re not meant to be barely getting by… we’re to be living in overwhelming victory.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:35-39 NLT (emphasis mine)
Goliath’s greatest weapon wasn’t his spear, his sword, his javelin, or even his size. It was the lies that poured from his manipulative mouth. He wanted to keep the Israelites focused on the fear he had planted in their hearts and minds. Without that fear, all it took was one smooth stone expertly aimed to make him fall face down in the dirt. That small little detail about falling face down is golden – it’s as though he couldn’t help but fall face down when meeting his Maker.
Our victory over any giant we might face – relational struggles, mental and physical issues, financial problems, and every act of evil – is found in the finished work of Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian – a by-faith-walking, saved by grace child of God – you never face trials alone. You have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead living inside of you (Romans 8:11), you have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:15-16), and you have a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)!
If you are in Christ, you already hold the victory. The giant has already fallen. He’s face down in the mud. David defeated a lion, a bear, and a giant. Obviously, his life wasn’t easy, but he was able to stand and fight because his confidence was found in God. It’s our turn.
Whether you prefer a shovel or a sling, it’s time that we stand in the confidence that God is on our side.
The problems are still real, and evil is still running rampant. But our God is greater. We will still find ourselves on the battlefield from time to time, but it’s crucial that we remember that we’re not fighting for victory, but rather we’re fighting from victory.
Watching our shovel-wielding daughter, I’m reminded that there are times we’re going to face a giant (or several), and we’ll have to decide to stand our ground or give up. But knowing Who I belong to – who I am as a child of God – I know I can face any foe with confidence.