Facing Your Giants When You Feel Small – Chapter Eleven
Imagine the scene: a scrawny sixteen year old shepherd boy takes out a 9’9” tall giant with one rock and
a sling.
You may not have a gigantic giant taunting you to come out and fight. But you are probably facing a few
giants of your own. Giants like the stack of past-due bills glaring at you. Like the divorce papers waiting
on your signature. Or the depression that looms over you like the Hulk. It could be low self-esteem or
insecurity or child abuse in your past. But you have your giants. And so do I. And we would do well to
learn from David.
He could face his “giant” because he had spent time in the quiet with God. When he arrived at the place
of the standoff between the Israelites and the Philistines, he talked about God. He told Saul that “The
LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of
this Philistine” (1Sam.17:37). He did not hesitate to confront Goliath, saying he came “in the name of
the Lord of host, the God of the armies of Israel.”
David was God-focused instead of giant-focused. He mentions Goliath two times and God nine times.
He knew the giant was there and recognized his presence. But his thoughts were twice as much on God.
That focus led him to confront his giant rather than run away. For forty days Goliath continued to challenge
Israel’s army. And for forty days everyone hoped he would just go away. But giants don’t typically
go away until we face them. So David stepped into the gap and slung one well-aimed stone at him.
It helps to have someone in your corner that believes in you. David had his Jonathan. You need yours.
You need at least one person who believes in you and that also believes in God. Someone who can
encourage your faith—give you courage—when you most need it.
And you will need it. Because after you slay one giant, there will be more. You may wonder why David
picked up five stones from the river bed. Was he afraid he might miss? Not likely. He was skilled in his
use of the sling.
2 Samuel 21:18-22 hints that Goliath may have had four brothers. David was ready. He could take on
one giant. You might say knew how to get a head of his giant. And then he was ready for more.
And you can too. Just follow the shepherd from Bethlehem.
Read The Story. Experience The Story. Used with permission © Zondervan 2010
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