1 Samuel 17:37
" 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.”
Was there ever a man like David? What a life he led, even from a very young age. Our first encounter with David is of him courageously deciding to battle with the over 9-foot Goliath, who we are told is a champion out of the Philistine camp. These Philistines were no joke; they were some big dudes bent on destruction. Just reading Goliath's description can have you shaking in your boots! He certainly put terror in the hearts of Saul and the Israelites, but not young David.
Let's be honest; we may have thought David was a bit out of his league with this one. Even his brothers accused him of being conceited. That didn't stop David. Instead, he proposed to Saul that he would fight this brute of a man, which Saul quickly dismissed. But, David gave Saul evidence that he was not merely a weak shepherd boy; after all, he had killed a lion and a bear. What David said next was revealing of his faith in God. He unshakingly stated, "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.” (1 Sam. 17:37)
David wasn't arrogant or full of himself; he was full of God! What sticks out is that David recalled what the Lord had done for him, how he had delivered him before. It wasn't because of David's superhuman strength. It was through God's divine power that David was victorious. David had evidence of the extraordinary power of the Lord! I love that although he tells Saul that he killed a lion and a bear, he quickly attributes it to the Lord. He says, "The Lord rescued me." He gave all the glory to God and then said, "He will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." Once again, he gives God the glory to be had. David knew he was only a vessel and that God was in control. And we know the end of that story: David killed Goliath with a stone and a slingshot.
Strengthen Your Faith Against Your Goliaths by Recalling What the Lord Has Done
We all face Goliaths. Maybe your Goliath is an addiction, a financial issue, a health crisis, a spiritual problem, an adultery situation, whatever it is, it's big, it's ugly, and it feels like there is no way you can face it or claim victory over it. You feel like giving in to defeat because you are exhausted trying to fight this battle. Well, I think we can learn a few things from young David.
Recognize you will not defeat your Goliath by your mere human strength. But, through the strength of God, you will be rescued.
Recall the many times the Lord has come through in seemingly impossible situations. Remember what He has delivered you from and where He has brought you,
As human beings, we are gifted with the ability to remember, recall, and bring to the front of our minds memories and experiences; with that, there are emotions attached to those memories. When you recall a difficult time that God has pulled you through or when he has shown you His abundant grace, you are tapping into a place that builds your faith. "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)
When you draw on your testimony, that evidence or proof of what God has done for you, an internal confidence will start to emerge. We can't see what will happen or how God will work in that marriage, or that cancer diagnosis, or redeem a loss, but we have hope like David did because the Lord has rescued us before!
Find Power In Your Testimony
Take a moment, sit down, and reflect on your testimony; think about how God has shown His Glory in your life in big and small ways. Write it down. Read it over and over again. Every time you read and reflect upon God's goodness, grace, and mercy, you will be strengthened. You will recall how He rescues you from the pit, slays your adversary, and gives you the power to conquer your Goliaths through Him. You are more than a conqueror in Christ.
Do not lose hope. Trust in the Lord, trust in His ways, dig deep into your memory, and recall ALL He has done, and rest in knowing He will do it again. When He does, like David, shout it out, stand bold in your testimony, and share it to strengthen others that are facing their Goliaths.