Facing your Giants

A month or so ago the words "Facing your Giants" kept popping up in my thoughts. Nothing particular in my life was going on at the time that I thought would require me to be thinking about this. I went and read 1 Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath. Obviously, this passage kept coming to mind as the thought about Facing the Giants would come up. A story I have read and heard numerous times, but what was I missing or overlooking from the passage? Who in their right mind would volunteer to fight Goliath, who was over 9 feet tall. Saul and the men of Israel were frightened and no one even considered going up against him. Along comes David. Humanly speaking, the odds were stacked against David. He was a youth, he was not even in the army, Goliath had yrs of military experience - David had none. Saul's armour was way to big on David, so he had no physical protection. All David had going for him was the Lord was on his side and he had 5 smooth stones and a sling. Now, to many people, this wasn't much. I am sure Saul and his men thought David had lost his young mind. But hey, better him than them going up against a giant. Most of you know the rest of the story - David killed Goliath with 1 stone and a sling. All David needed was the lord on his side and the faith that God would provide and deliver him. Nothing else at all, nothing. The Lord!! I have thought over the past month or so about this. All David had was the Lord, he didn't rely on his self or his own strength or anyone else. So, it lead me to ask myself - What am I leaning on more? Myself or God? I wanted to answer God. Life had been going so good and I had no major stress, other than yor normal, everyday stresses of life and raising children, that I honestly had to step back and take a look at myself. I had been getting to big for my britches, thinking I was in control and how good everything was going that I was straying from asking for God's guidance and wisdom on a daily basis. I honestly couldn't answer God at that point. I begin to ponder about my giants - what are they, what do I fear? I am not a worry type and never have been. We all have our "giants" on our lives. For some, it may be facing Chirstmas without a loved one(s) for the first time or for the tenth time, etc. It may be job loss, financial troubles, marital trouble, children difficulty, friendships in trouble, medical issues, worries about things in this life, and the list could go on and on. Whether we admit it or not, we all have "giants" in our lives. Some more than others, sometimes you don't realize it till it happens and you are standing face to face with the "giant." What will you do? I would have to think that as a parent, one of the giants would be losing a child. 2 days before Thanksgiving, this happened to our friends, they lost their 3 month old son suddenly. The day started out as any normal day, but by that afternoon, it would become a day that would forever change their lives. This is a giant I must admit, I don't think about, although it has crossed my mind at times. But, when it happens to you or someone you know, well, there is no avoiding this giant. I watched as a young family's life was seemingly shattered and could have crumbled under these circumstances. But, this couple faced this giant with only God on their side and byt heir faith and assurance in His will, not their own will or plans, but His. This has to be one of the most tragic events anyone can go thorugh in this life. I have watched as this couple has given the glory and praise to God through this entire process. Never once did they question God or ask why? No anger, no bitterness. How many people could do this in such an unimaginable situation? What a witness they have been to others, not only the lost, but other Christians as well. They have taught us so much. I could go on and on about this. This is how we should face our giants. We all know people who asked why would God let this happen and so on? I don't understand why this happened? Well, if you have faith like David and this couple, you do understand and you can accept it and know that God has a plan and a purpose, as difficult as this is, they have displayed true, saving faith. Praise God!! We have a decision to make as Christians as we face our "giants", I think we know the right choice, but when the time comes, our actions and words will show us if we made the right decision. Who will we lean on and what will we do when the times come? Not only did this loss of this precious baby boy minister to me, it showed me, along with some other minor events in my life that have transpired over the past month or so, that my head was getting to big for me. Things have been going so well, that I was losing my focus on God and started thinking I was in control and doing what I wanted without asking for His guidance on a daily basis. Once again, He reeled me back in and showed me that I am nothing without Him. I cannot function, even on a daily basis, without Him. My "giants" will change as the days go by, but my Lord will never change. As I face my "giants", big or small, I have to trust and rely on God. For without Him, the "giant" will crush me. We don't know what tomorrow may bring, but we know who holds the future. Could you say "It is well, with my soul" in times of joy and in times or sorrow. I hope so! Whatever"giant" you may be facing currently or comes your way, I pray you will face it with God's help and a faith like David's. The Lord is all we need, nothing else.