Slingshot Faith
There will be many times in life when problems seem bigger than what you can handle. When I think of horror or action-packed superhero movies, I can recall the scenes where people see an oncoming threat and immediately begin running and screaming wildly as they desperately attempt to escape the imminent danger. They panic because they feel powerless and afraid. It’s always the brave heroes of the story that do the complete opposite. It’s the true warriors that dig deep within themselves to find the courage and strength to face their opponents. In the Word of God, David is one of those heroes. Against all odds, he manages to defeat the most feared giant in all the land. Not a single skilled warrior dared to face the intimidating Philistine, yet a young shepherd boy named David stepped up to the plate. So, what was it that set him apart from all the others? It certainly wasn’t his height or his strength. No, David had something much more powerful—he had incredible faith! His faith is what empowered him to take on this seemingly impossible challenge and was evident as follows:
1. David refused to receive the facts as his truth. Everyone knew that Goliath was skilled and trained for battle. They all knew how big and strong he was. He had all the right training, support, and background that a warrior of his day could have received. Goliath was the Philistine champion! These were the facts. But David didn’t accept these facts as HIS personal truth. David believed Goliath was conquerable regardless of his background. As a matter of fact, David believed he could defeat Goliath, even though he had never fought on a battlefield (1 Sam 16:36, 37). He did not let the facts intimidate him.
2. David reflected on the past. When Saul tried to discourage David from fighting Goliath, David sternly reminded him, “Your servant has killed both a lion and a bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them!” He believed with everything inside him that God would deliver him from this giant, as well. He dug deep down to pull out the courageous faith that came from past victories. This was a common occurrence for David. He would often encourage himself when dealing with dire circumstances, as written all throughout the book of Psalms in addition to 1 Samuel 30:6. This is a habit every Christian should strive to attain. With the power of the Holy Spirit, we can encourage ourselves and stir up the faith needed in that moment.
3. David used what he already had. Saul attempted to provide David with proper armor used in battle. But David wasn’t used to it. It didn’t feel or fit right to him. It actually would have weighed him down and made his efforts less effective! Instead, David chose to use what he already had in his hand—his slingshot. He had protected many sheep with this small weapon. He had learned to use it with skill and precision unlike any other shepherd on the field. What do you have in your hand? God may very well be expecting you to use it to defeat the giants in your life!
4. David knew how big his God was! Yes, Goliath was huge. But God was and is exponentially bigger! David knew he had God on his side; he wasn’t fighting alone. So when Goliath yelled his taunts and threats at David, David responded confidently with, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head!” Bold, wouldn’t you say? That's the kind of boldness that comes with true faith in God.
5. David saw the bigger picture. Instead of defending his sheep, he was now defending God’s sheep. There was much more at stake. He repeatedly stated that Goliath was “defying the armies of the living God” and knew he had to uphold God’s honorable name. He also knew that the Israelites’ defeatist attitudes and decreased faith in God’s promises were unacceptable. He audaciously declared to the Philistine army, “The whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and He will give all of you into our hands.”
So the next time you’re facing a giant, take the approach that David took. His incredible faith in the Lord assured him that he would defeat Goliath with only a slingshot in his hand. Moreover, his fatal move was quick and precise. God’s way is always the best way, so let Him fight alongside you. Ultimately, both the battle and the victory belong to Him!
MOVE. MEASURE. MARCH.
March On!
Letty Roy
