What is a giant, Mimi? My grandson asked me on the way home from preschool. Henry and I were talking about the story of David and Goliath. I explained to him that David conquered Goliath, who was a “giant.” When he asked me to describe a giant, I explained “a giant is a person that is very, very tall. Giants are taller than everyone else and they can even see over our heads because they are so, so tall. Henry thought for a few seconds, and then said, “My daddy is a giant.” Trying to contain my laughter, I explained that his dad is indeed very tall (he is 6’ 6”!) but he’s not a giant. He’s just taller than all of us. I also told him one day he will grow to be as tall as his dad.
Reflecting on this funny conversation, got me thinking that from Henry’s perspective as a child, everyone is taller than him. Therefore, everybody seems like a giant to him. From the spiritual perspective, I also asked myself, who are my giants? In a way, somedays I feel like David facing my own Goliaths. A “giant” in my life can be anything that I feel is so much bigger than me. A situation that I cannot conquer on my own. I need help—supernatural help. The giant can be a workload that is unsustainable or a series illness in the family. It is watching one of my loved ones turn away from God or a relationship that breaks. It is a circumstance or situation too big for me to handle alone.
That supernatural help only comes from God. But before He can interfere to help us, we need to take several steps:
· Recognize that the battle we’re facing is too big for us to handle on our own.
· Ask for help, both from our friends and family as well as from God.
· Accept the help with humility understanding that the “giant” is simply too big to face alone.
· Arm ourselves with the armor of God—especially faith that we will be victorious with God’s help.
· Understand that it is only because of Jesus that we can win the battles.
· Release and let God take over the situation.
The story of David and Goliath
I encourage you to read the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. The Israelites were to fight the Philistines. Here is the description of Goliath: 4 Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall! 5 He wore a bronze helmet, and his bronze coat of mail weighed 125 pounds. 6 He also wore bronze leg armor, and he carried a bronze javelin on his shoulder. 7 The shaft of his spear was as heavy and thick as a weaver’s beam, tipped with an iron spearhead that weighed 15 pounds. His armor bearer walked ahead of him carrying a shield.
No wonder the Israelites were terrified of Goliath! He challenged the Israelites and requested them to send one person to defeat him. If that person defeated him, then the Philistines would become slaves to the Israelites. But if he won, then the Israelites would be slaves to the Philistines. When David, a shepherd, heard of the challenge and how scared the Israelites were, he was furious. 26 David asked the soldiers standing nearby, “What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his defiance of Israel? Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?”
When King Saul heard about David’s question, he asked to see him. David told the King, “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” After being told no several times, David insisted and told King Saul: 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” and so he went. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine. As the giant approached David, he told Goliath that the God of Israel would conquer. The battle is God’s, he proclaimed… 48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.
There are so many lessons learned from this story. For today, I ask you: What are the giants in your life? Nothing is too big for God to help you conquer the battle. Trust God that He will deliver you from your situation, and He will.