Have you ever had a problem that seemed so enormous you just didn’t know how to fight it or where to begin to fight the battle before you? I’m sure we all could give a testimony of those battles and how God’s mercy and power brought us through them. Let’s admit it we all have battles in our lives. Some are financial, some medical, some with relationships; the list could get quite lengthy if we tried to name all of them. I’m certain we can agree that everyone has trials and tests, disappointments and decisions to a lesser or greater degree every day.   I call those problem-times that taunt us and try to cause us to fear and give up, “Fighting Our Goliath”.

In 1 Samuel 17 we read about David and Goliath. This is where Israel was at war with the Philistines. One of the warriors of the Philistines was Goliath; big in stature and very intimidating to the armies Israel. No one wanted to go out and fight him. The Israelites had gotten their focus off of God’s promises to help them and onto the problem; fear was reigning in the hearts of the armies of Israel. Even King Saul was too scared to go out and fight this Philistine who was defying the armies of God. When David came on the scene and found out what was going on; he decided that he would fight this Philistine. King Saul wanted David to wear his armor but David refused on the basis that he hadn’t tried or tested it.  Also since David was a youth it probably didn’t fit him properly anyway. Then in verse 40 we read that he took his staff; went to the brook and picked up five smooth stones.  He put them in his shepherd’s bag with his sling shot and went out to face Goliath.

The thing I love about David is that when Goliath came out to fight saying all those words of fear and doubt, David replied with his faith in his faithful God. We find his answer in verse 45, “Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, 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’”. Then David proceeded to also tell Goliath what he was going to do.  We need to “answer” our problems with the Word of God; quoting Scripture to meet the enemy coming toward us.

As I was reading this chapter the part about the five stones reminded me of the whole armor of God described in Ephesians 6:10-17: Staff – Word of God, Sling – Sword of the Spirit, which is the power. The five stones: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the feet fitted with the Gospel of peace.

We must remember that though our battles may appear to be natural enemies; the real culprit is the devil and therefore our weapons are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. (1 Corinthians 10:4) We need to remember that fear will always make us want to run from problems whereas faith will always make us want to conquer problems.  We need to keep our minds renewed to the truth that with God all things are possible and if God is for us who can be against us; and that we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. (Matthew 19:26, Romans 8:31, 37)

My prayer for you this week is that no matter what problem you are facing you realize that God was not, and never is, taken by surprise by its appearing.  I pray that you will bow your thoughts, words, and life before God Almighty, agreeing with His Word and receive the promises He has for you.

Next week we’ll study the Armor of God.