Our grandson plays high school football. He is a big man at about six feet two inches tall and around 250 pounds. The team uses him as a nose tackle on defense. That means he is lined up against two other large men on every play. He has to push and shove his way through these giants to reach his goal of tackling whoever has the ball. It is a daunting task.
We all face giants in our path. They come upon us as big problems or troubles. They seek to keep us from our goal of living happy successful lives. These problems want to distract us from living righteously and walking with God.
King David faced a giant when he was just a young man. This giant, Goliath, wanted to destroy, not only David, but all of God’s people. Goliath was certainly strong and well equipped for the fight. But David responded by saying, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” We all know the rest of the story. David killed Goliath with a slingshot.
But really, how did David succeed? First, he took his eyes off the giant and put them onto God. He knew the problem was big, but he also knew that his God was much bigger. Second, he placed his trust in God, not in his own strength and abilities. He came to the fight in the name of the Lord. Third, he did not fight in his own cleverness and wisdom. He used only what God had given him.
We should use the same successful strategy when faced with our own giant problems. Take our eyes off the giant problem and put them on God. Trust God, not our own strength. And rely on God to fight for us. The battle is the Lord’s. The victory is assured.
Reluctant Retiree 