While tending his father’s flocks David was unaware of the intense battle scene in the valley of Elah. Concerned, David’s father sends him to bring food and see how his brothers are doing on the front lines. This day will be a turning point for David, King Saul and Israel. These kinds of days come to us as well.
Some have the illusion that they will successfully overcome their giant in the heat of the moment. But, the truth is if you’re unprepared to face your Goliath you won’t do too well. The way you live your life day in and day out is the preparation for your future challenges.
Israel had Goliath Phobia. After forty humiliating and exhausting days they died a little each day and each day they grew more cowardice. Yet, David was not intimidated. David’s focus was on God and NOT in his ability or even on the enemy! He wanted please to God the best he could when his people had forgotten that God had fought for them over the years. They had seen it and heard about it all their lives. Maybe you have too.
You can overcome your Goliath by how you respond to four personal challenges:
The challenge of criticism and opposition has the potential to develop heartfelt courage. David’s brother Eliab railed at his youngest brother, “I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.”
David’s response: “Now what have I done?” said David. “Can’t I even speak?”
Why the cheap shot? Was Eliab jealous because the prophet Samuel had anointed David with oil in the presence of all his family? Eliab’s criticism and opposition was not even close to being accurate! We all get inaccurate and hurtful cheap shots in life.
Many people do their best to avoid criticism at all costs! David knew who the real enemy was. His brother was not the giant, Goliath was. He knew who to fight and who to leave alone. Do you?
If criticism is not accurate stay focused on what’s most important and if it is accurate then deal with it. Lets’ face it, criticism and opposition is inevitable.
The challenge of everyday choices, the daily mundane stuff of life. (I Samuel 17:33-37)
David was faithful in watching over his father’s flocks. No one from all of the Israeli troops was willing stand up against Goliath. Yet, David, just a young teenage boy persuaded King Saul to let him face the giant by saying,“Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them.”
Whatever our challenges there are no easy routes, but we can get a little bolder when we face the not so glamorous stuff that builds courage and character. If we wait until we see the whites of the eyes of our Goliath we will run just like everyone, but David didn’t. The kind of everyday choices we make can develop our ability to overcome the greater challenges around the corner.
Rosa Parks, an African American woman boldly refused to go to the back of the bus and ignited the 1955 bus boycott in Montgomery Alabama. The boycott became a key victory in the civil rights movement. While her decision appeared to be a spur of the moment act, it was anything but.
Parks spent the previous twelve years helping lead the local NAACP chapter. For years she was studying other bus boycotts and had already been arrested in Baton Rouge two years earlier.
Join us next time as we explore more about facing our giants.
