Facing giant odds with strength and confidence

I've been doing some thinking about the "stuff" going on around me....not only in my life but in the lives of my friends and family. Let's just face it, the issues we face from day to day can be down-right tough and can leave us overwhelmed by what seem to be "impossible odds." Wouldn't you agree? 

Pondering "impossible odds" I thought the time David stood up to Goliath. If ever there was a story about strength and courage while standing before "impossible odds" it's this one. David's encounter with Goliath is found in 1 Samuel 17. 

The Philistine army had come out prepared to do battle against Saul and the Israelites. The Philistines set up camp on one hill; the army of Israel on the other. For forty days Goliath, a 9 foot tall Philistine warrior taunted Saul and his men.

 "“Why have you taken positions for battle? I am a Philistine, and you are Saul’s servants! Choose a man and send him to fight me. If he can fight and kill me, we will be your servants. But if I can kill him, you will be our servants.” Then he said, “Today I stand and dare the army of Israel! Send one of your men to fight me!”  (1 Samuel 17: 8 - 10)

Whoa! The gauntlet was thrown. Saul and his men were afraid. In these days, armies would often avoid the high cost of battle by sending their strongest warrior to fight the strongest warrior of the other army. Saul knew if Goliath was "calling someone out" he was the tallest of the Israeli army.  He would have to be the one to face Goliath. I think I'd be sufficiently "afraid" if a 9 foot tall man dared me to a fight. Wouldn't you?

What was Saul to do?

Enter David. At the request of his father, David went to where his brothers were camped out with the Israeli army to give them food. It just so happened, he arrived at the exact time Goliath came out to taunt the Israelites once again. David heard Goliath's dare and then saw the men of Israel flee in fear. What would you do in this same situation?  Look at Goliath and run? Or would you see the situation from a different perspective?

David saw the situation completely different from everyone else. He saw a man defying the living God. Knowing this man was not a man who feared the Lord, David said with boldness and confidence "I will go and fight this Philistine!" (1 Samuel 17:32)

“Huh?” Can you just imagine the silence among the men of Israel? “You? But you’re just a boy. This guy is going to rip you to shreds.”

David knew God would protect him in the midst of the battle. After all, God had spared him from the paws of the bears and lions that tried to steal his sheep. He saw Goliath the same way and knew God would protect him.

David ignored the criticism of the crowd and stepped out knowing it wasn’t him doing the fighting…it was the almighty God of Israel. Sling in one hand stone in another, David quickly loaded the stone and chucked it at Goliath. Ok, I have to admit that this is the place in the scene where I would typically throw my hands up over my eyes and not watch what was going to happen next for fear the “good guy” was going to get squashed like a bug. I guess it’s just the girl in me. 

The stone landed in the middle of Goliath’s forehead. God used one confident heart and one smooth stone to knock the giant off of his feet and send the Philistine army packing. 

Isn’t it amazing how God can use the youngest, weakest, and/or smallest to accomplish His purposes? Even when the odds look impossible, God is at work to show us anything is possible (Luke 1:37) when we trust and choose to allow Him to fight for us.

What “impossible” odds are you facing in your life?

·         Job loss

·         Cheating spouse

·         Financial issues

·         Behavioral issues with your children

·         Poor choices

·         Sexual Sin/Pornography/Lust

·         Addiction

·         Depression

·         Divorce

·         Death of a loved one

·         Incurable disease

Whatever it is, our God is stronger, bigger, and higher than any “giant” we will ever face. My I encourage you today to surround yourself with people who will pray with you, provide Godly wisdom, support you, encourage  you, show you the love of Christ and the truth and promises of God’s word.

Remember, you are not facing "impossible odds" by yourself....GOD...the same God who shaped the earth, hung the stars, led Israel through the desert, and formed you in your mother's womb....is with you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NCV) Be strong and brave. Don't be afraid of "the giants in your life" [paraphrase mine] because the Lord your God will go with you. He will not leave you or forget you.

The Bunk Bed Incident

My son was playing around in his room on the top bunk a few weeks back. I reminded him that the top bunk really wasn’t an ideal place to play…but that must have fallen on deaf ears. As he was playing, he pushed his leg through the wooden railing surrounding the bed. When he tried to pull his leg back through it didn’t work. He was stuck. He did try to “unstick” his leg for a few seconds, but the more he tried the more anxious he became making the entire situation worse. He was afraid he’d be stuck “forever”.

As I read through a few chapters of Isaiah this morning, I thought back to my son's situation…especially when I read Isaiah 40:10a. I like the way the Message paraphrases the verse:

“Don’t panic. I’m with you.”

DON’T PANIC! My son was doing just the opposite, he was panicking! Truthfully, I find myself doing the same thing. Current circumstances have allowed fear, anxiety (panic) and worry to rear their ugly heads and leave me just like my son was that day…afraid to move. I allowed myself to get so wrapped up in various situations that I completely lost sight of where my strength and help actually come from. Isaiah 41 – 43 opened my eyes to see the truth this morning.

I don’t have to be plagued by fear, worry and anxiety. According to verses throughout the three chapters of Isaiah, my God is with me. I am certain of it…because the rest of Isaiah 40:10b assures me of that truth.

“There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.

I’ll give you strength.

I’ll help you.

I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.” [emphasis mine]

I see this now as I think back to the “bunk bed” incident. My son was afraid because he felt trapped and couldn’t get out of his current circumstance on his own accord. Isn’t that how most of like to handle life’s little (or major in some cases) circumstances…on our own and in our own strength?  I know it’s true for me. 

That day, when my son cried out for help, I saw the situation from an entirely different perspective. Within a matter of seconds, I was able to “free” him from the fear and anguish of his circumstance. In just a matter of minutes, he was laughing and playing (not on the bunk bed) as if nothing ever happened. 

What I’ve learned is I am just like him; I try to "get free" on my own before even once asking for help. But that's not helping anything at all. I can’t do anything apart from Christ. God is my loving Father; I can be assured of His strength, help and victory over my fear, my worry, and my anxiety. He is with me…and He will never leave me.

Today, I think I am going to remind myself of this important truth by going back to a song I used to sing during praise and worship a few years back. It’s a great way for me to remember that I can’t do one single thing WITHOUT Christ.

Apart from You (Todd Fields)

I can’t do anything, I can’t say anything

I can’t face anything, apart from You

You are everything, so my soul will sing

I’m not anything, apart from You

Lord Your life is the air that I breathe

Every promise You’ve given sustains me

There is nothing on earth that I need

But to be with You

Betrayed!

John 18: 1 – 2 “When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples.”

The activities in the upper room are over. The Passover meal is complete; Jesus has modeled the attitude of servant leadership by washing the disciples’ feet, He has spoken of and identified his betrayer with a piece of bread, He has spoken of Peter’s denial before dawn, He has told them about the coming of the Holy Spirit and his departure (John 16), and He has prayed for himself, his disciples, and those believers yet to come. After all this has taken place, Jesus and his disciples make their way to the Garden of Gethsemane where they have often gone to retreat from the crowd. Because Judas had once walked with them, he knows exactly where to find Jesus.  While Jesus is praying, Judas leads a group of soldiers and guards followed by the leading religious authorities’ right to Jesus.

Knowing what was getting ready to happen Jesus stepped toward them asking “Who is it you’re looking for?”

The guards replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said, “I am He.” When Jesus said this, the group fell to the ground. What? Fell to the ground? How is this possible, weren’t they there to take Jesus captive? Yes, but they recognized who Jesus was. Once again Jesus asked, “Who is it you’re looking for?”

“Jesus of Nazareth” the guards replied.

“I am He,” Jesus said “now that you have the one you came for let these others go.” Jesus said this so his own words would be fulfilled “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.” (John 17:12)

When the guards agreed, it was Peter who grabbed a sword and struck one of the guards cutting off his ear. Peter had to have thought he was doing all he could to protect Jesus. Wouldn’t you think? But what do you think Peter was going through Peter’s mind when Jesus reattached the guard’s ear and then said “Put back your sword (Peter), shouldn’t I drink the cup my Father gave me?” I don’t know about you, but I may have been a little confused at this point. But Jesus understood his responsibility, his purpose, the Father’s plan for his life and he wasn’t going to let anything interfere with what he had come to earth to do. He didn’t try to fight back. Jesus went willingly, fully depending on the Father to be his strength and peace in the middle of this current circumstance.

Jesus faced the tough road ahead with humility and strength. He knew what the Father had sent him to do and nothing would deter him from accomplishing his task. Have you ever thought about what would have happened had Jesus run from his current circumstances that night in the garden? Aren’t you thankful you don’t have to worry about that? Jesus was not going to stop until the job the Father had given him was done. Throughout the night, Jesus relied on the Father to strengthen him during the toughest time in his life.

If God can strengthen Jesus through a flogging with a lead-tipped whip after which he was practically unrecognizable, a crown of thrones pressed so hard into his skull that he bled, and a crucifixion with nails through both hands and feet, don’t you think HE can strengthen you through whatever circumstance you find yourself in the middle of?  

When God calls you to something, he will most certainly get you through it – no matter how difficult or unbearable the moment might seem.