BOOT CAMP WITH GOLIATH

In Psalm 27:13, we read: “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

“But they said we have no hope. Don’t you believe them?”

“No, Timmy. I don’t care how many people say something, that doesn’t make it right.”

“But Grandfather...” He opened his Bible to 1 Samuel 7.

“Timmy, remember the story of David and Goliath?” He  nodded. “Here’s David, a young shepherd boy, asking his brothers and the rest of the army, what they were going to do about this giant, Goliath. He was big and scary.”

“Was David scared?”

“Probably, but it didn't keep him from volunteering. So they took him to King Saul who tried to protect David with his armor. But it didn’t fit. One size doesn’t fit all.”

“Like me wearing your shoes?” Timmy laughed. “Each foot in a canoe!”

“Exactly.” Grandfather chuckled. “Can you imagine what happened when King Saul put his sword in David’s hands?” Timmy giggled.

“David knew he could depend on the Lord God. He ran towards the giant with his sling, stopped at the brook, picked up five stones, said. ‘I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand.’ He put a stone in his sling, slung it, hit Goliath in his forehead. He fell on his face to the earth.”

“Wait, Grandfather. Why could David fight and the others were afraid?”

“The others thought Goliath was too big to fight. David thought he was too big to miss! It’s all about the way we see things. And remember, David had fought a lion and a bear while protecting his sheep. The Lord trained David as a shepherd. He was ready.”

“I want to be trained and ready but do I have to fight lions and bears?”

“Hope not, son. But everyone has Goliaths in this boot camp life and God provides the stones. But we know we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Therefore, we don’t loose heart.”

Kingdom Thinking. I find it easy to loose heart. So I choose to look at the Goliaths in my life and know that the Lord Jesus has a plan. He loves me with an everlasting love and promises never to leave nor forsake me. He promises the same to you. Won’t you come?