We all face little adversities, small problems in life every now and then. Most of the time we know how to handle them through years of experience or by heeding the advice of someone and by tapping on the expertise of those surrounding us or by using the resources around us. But little do we realise that we use these as our crutches to stand strong in our moments of trouble.
I realised it only when my crutches were knocked down and I felt myself drowning, when an unexpected problem, which was not created by me, occurred. At that time I had no previous experience on how to solve it, nor did I know of anyone I could fall back on. That is when I realised how shallow my faith in God was. That is when I began to read God's Word faithfully, write down His promises and claim every promise of His by standing firm on God's Word.
As I poured my heart into God's Word, I realised one thing...every great man and woman of God in the bible did fail at a point or two, but because of their confidence and unshakable faith in the Living God, they were able to accomplish great things; Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David...to name a few.
I was enamoured by the confidence a mere shepherd boy, David, had in the God of Israel, when I read 1Samuel 17:37-51.
The Israelites were facing the Philistine giant, Goliath, who threatened to wipe out Israel. It was David the shephard boy who appeared at the scene...
Saul dissuades David from going against Goliath saying that he was of small stature and was no match to the giant. But David recollects and narrates his past experiences when he killed a lion and a bear which came to attack his sheep. What amazed me is what David said next in verse 37...
1 Samuel 17:37 NIV
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.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
Instead of boasting about his own strength, David ascribes the past victories to God and puts his confidence in Him. When Saul sees how much David relies on God, he gives his blessing to David and asks him to go, saying, "and the Lord be with you.”
Next in verse 38 Saul clothes David in his own tunic. He put on David his armour and helmet, then David tried putting on the sword and walked around. But as David was not used to it and had not tested the items, he took them off. He went on to pick five smooth stones from the stream, put them in his pouch and went with his usual staff and sling to meet the giant.
This taught me to be always careful and walk on tested waters.
Next in verses 45-47, when David meets the giant, the giant ridicules him. But David proclaims his trust in God saying that the battle belongs to God.
1 Samuel 17:45-47 NIV
David said to the Philistine, “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. [46] This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. [47] 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.”
Whoa! What a bold proclamation from one who did not carry a sword or spear but only a shepherd's staff, a sling and five smooth stones.
Yes, just as David proclaimed, all those who were gathered there saw with their own eyes, that when God is involved in a battle, He does not need what we need. They saw with their own eyes that God saves supernaturaly without sword or spear.
Thus David defeated the Philistines by killing Goliath with his sling and only one smooth stone and then he went on to cut the dead Goliath's head with Goliath's own sword. How amazing is our God!
When David could put so much of confidence in a God whom he had not seen but only heard, why can't I put my trust in God Who sent His only Son Jesus to bleed and die on the cross for us, taking our sin and shame upon Himself and saving us from eternal hell fire?
I began to ask Father God to help me be faithful in standing on His promises and I began to exercise my faith in Him. I am not there in faith yet. I run back into His arms to receive my free gift of faith from Him whenever I find it depleting.
Thus when adversities strike unannounced, I am prepared to hand them over to my God and proclaim, "Lord it is all yours!" And I boldly and confidently say, " My God will win the battle for me!"
Now with confidence in my God, I am able to face any giant and smile at him. All I need is a mustard seed sized faith. All glory and praise to Him who made the gift of faith freely available to all who ask.
Mary Augustine
17th March 2016
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