Friday, July 21, 2017

In preparation to meet his opponent David stooped to collect five stones from the streambed. His stride never faltered as he crossed the Valley of Elah and the outline of his adversary came into clearer view. Neither did he utter thoughts of retreat, nor vocalize fear as he neared Goliath and realized the enormity of the Philistine. Instead, as he faced the behemoth, David displayed courage and exuded confidence. Years of tending sheep prepared him for such a time as this. As a field trained marksman of the sling, David didn’t spout accolades in his abilities, but rather extolled his confidence in the God he served—The Lord Almighty (1 Samuel 17).

Standing courageous when facing challenges is the opposite of cowering in fear.

David stood courageous.

Flash forward to present day. We aren’t David, but as we journey through life we will face our own giants. While at times we may wish to retreat, Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:13 and 1 Corinthians 16:13 that a strong stance is a position Christ asks us to uphold in all circumstances. This is the same position Christ commanded of Joshua and the Israelites as they prepared to cross the Jordan valley and enter the Promised Land: “Be strong and courageous” Joshua 1:9a NIV.

Standing courageous requires obedience especially in the face of fear. While I doubt any of us will ever be required to grab a handful of stones in preparation to slay a towering Philistine giant; however, during our lifetime, we will find ourselves facing giants of various proportions:

• health related giants
• emotional giants
• family and relationship giants
• giants in the form of addictions or temptations
• educational giants
• career giants
• financial giants
• the giants of peer pressure
• comparison and self-esteem giants
• ministry giants

The list of potential giants we may face in our lifetime is endless.

Standing firm in our faith as we push beyond those giants takes courage that goes beyond our own power. Yet, trusting God to fight and conquer these giants on our behalf is not always easy. Allowing Him to fight for us means we must release the circumstance(s) to His care. Sometimes the thought of letting go and releasing control to Him is a giant in and of itself. In every situation the words of Joshua 1:9b are a good reminder to not be terrified or discouraged, “for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (NIV).

We can take this verse to heart and rely on God’s promise to be with us and to help us stand courageous as we face the giants of this world, regardless of what those giants look like.

Are you struggling to stand firm in the face of giants? Please know that I am praying for you as you cling to the promise of Joshua 1:9 while facing your giant(s).

As always, feel free to enter the conversation through the comment section below – Jill P.

** All photos are compliments of pixabay.com