On a personal level, I have been feeling “under attack” on many different levels. I know and feel that through all the attacks and uncertainty God will bring a breakthrough to something that is greater than I can imagine. And in the middle of the struggle and feeling of defeat, God will glorify Himself in what He does. It’s not about what you or me are going through. God already knows that. But God wants us to let go and let Him turn loose every power He has to draw us closer to Him. In that way God will use you and me to show His power. I may feel forgotten, overwhelmed and even discouraged. Being disappointed will happen. Being discouraged is a choice. But God is our rock, our anchor, and our salvation.
We can be disappointed in ourselves, with others, or with a situation that involves home, ministry, or finances. But that disappointment cannot drag us into discouragement. When we look at God’s Word, one clear example of this comes out: David.
To set this up, the Israelites were trapped against the Sea on one side and the Philistines on the other side. (By the way – did you know the name “Philistine” is the old name for “Palestine?”) The Israelites had all but given up. Their disappointment in their leadership, and in God, to some extent had led them to become discouraged and then unable to act. They were just too afraid of what would happen, could happen, or should happen.
“David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:45-47 NLT)
Life's “Goliaths” come in all shapes, sizes, and strengths. It can be in the form of an unhappy relationship, a difficult job, a rebellious child, a pile of debt, an uncontrollable habit, and so on. David faced what appeared to be a problem too big to overcome. Like Him, we can gain victory through God's power, though we may "suffer and bleed" on the battlefield.
Notice that in verse 46 David declared victory over Goliath before the battle even began by declaring “Today the LORD will conquer you.” It was a done deal. But notice also that this did not stop the Philistines from advancing. They depended on their earthly “Goliath” to win the victory for them. They put all their confidence in the size and power of Goliath. But Goliath was a man. David had the unlimited power of God on His side. David knew his human limitations would not bring victory. David's confidence, on the other hand, was rooted in his past experiences. David credited God with protecting and strengthening him when he killed the lion and bear that had threatened his flock.
Furthermore, David believed he would triumph because he was God's servant. The boy had spent hours alone in the wilderness listening to God's quiet voice. Even a giant's discouraging shout could not shake his convictions about who the Lord was and what He could do through His servant.
David had practical faith habits. He spent time with God, which yielded a strong relationship. In turn, he responded to a problem with the certainty that he was a beloved child of God with full access to his Father's storehouses of power, courage, and wisdom. If David had a moment of doubt, he could recall his own poetic words about the Lord's great faithfulness in past troubles.
Our faith does not depend on the wisdom of men. Our faith depends on the power of God. Sometimes words of encouragement fall empty. Sometimes what others say to lift us up will fall short. But it is the faithfulness of God that will stand strong. I encourage all of us to practice David's faith habits. Spend time alone with the Lord, and keep a record of His work in our life. Then we can act in confidence that God is sufficient, no matter how big a problem looms. He gives victory to those who stand in faith and confront their “Goliaths.”
Hello Again!!
7 years ago
