Every day, we are faced with seemingly insurmountable problems that stand in our way. It could be a health issue. It could be financial problem, perhaps a mountain of debt. It could be job stress, or turmoil in the society in which we live. It could be a mental health issue, perhaps an addiction.
Whatever it is – overcoming it may seem impossible. Whatever it is – it has caused us to become withered and exhausted. Look within you – be honest – what is your Goliath?
Perhaps, your Goliath is your faith – a faith that just seems too big for you, or maybe it’s a lack of faith? Maybe you’ve had a streak of circumstances in life that have made you question your faith, and question whether God is even real? Maybe it’s the corrosive cloud that humanity has cast over Christs’ Church that has resulted in corruption and pain? Maybe this, is your Goliath?
Whatever it is – we are all David.
We are all the man with the withered hand.
The Lord will deliver our Goliath into our hand –so that through Him – we can overcome.
But He is telling us, yearning for us, to stretch out our hand– so that He can deliver.
We have to believe, so that He can do.
The amount of faith it takes to trust in the Lord this way – that He will provide for us so that we can overcome the Philistines in our life, to reach out to Him when we don’t feel worthy, when we are withered and ugly through sin – well, it can move mountains.
I’ve had many Goliaths in my life. I know many of you have been around for far more years and have encountered your own Goliaths. I know that others are far younger, but have endured Goliaths that none of us can imagine.
When you encounter one of those Goliaths – what do you do? Do you cower and hide? Do you rush into battle without even thinking? Do you plan and worry, and plan and worry, and fall into the pits of despair and anxiety?
Or do you look to God and say Lord, I trust in You, that you will deliver a solution into my hands?
And when He says, “stretch out your hand”, do you want to reach out, but pull back because of fear or embarrassment? Do you half-heartedly move your hand out a little more, hoping that Christ will do the rest? Or do you stretch with all your strength towards Him Who can heal and overcome all things?
As you look to 2020 – these are the questions to ask yourself. These are the questions I’m asking myself
Personally speaking – there is a Goliath in my life that I am having a difficult time overcoming. Just when it seems I’m close to slinging that stone, the Goliath rears its ugly head, brandishes its sword, and attacks.
It seems the so often I wake up and I say to myself that, this day, the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike your down.
But all too often, I end the day withered, and unable to overcome.
Do you find yourself having this same encounter? Do you find yourself ready and willing to slay the Philistine every morning when you start the day, only to look around and see that you are the only one standing there, everyone else is standing back, afraid to stand up, and instead of having the faith that the stone will sink into its head, instead of believing that the Lord will guide that stone, you just… wish it to be true? And in these times, you sling that stone, and… you miss… It wizzes by Goliath’s head and he charges, and attacks!
Fortunately, David didn’t just hope and wish – he believed – with every fiber of his being. He believed that the Lord would provide Him with a solution.
And when you get withered and tired of the fight, do you stretch for Jesus when He tells you to, or do you simply reach a little, and then slump back down?
Lots of questions today. Lots of questions in my heart, as I reflect on the Goliaths in my life.
Questions on not if God is real and do I hope and wish it to be so. But do I truly believe that He can help me overcome the Philistines in my life, and heal my withered soul? Do I truly believe that I can overcome anything through Him, that He will deliver the solution into my hand? Do I truly believe that He is in and thru and with me – or do I just simply wish?
I’m looking my Goliath in the face.
You are looking your Goliath right in the face.
Do I believe God can help me slay him?
Do you?
