“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.’” 1 Samuel 17:45

I find it humorous that the story of David and Goliath is the subject of many Sunday School discussions. It’s funny, because the story of David and Goliath is anything but a children’s story.

First of all, Goliath was terrifying. He was huge, probably about nine and a half feet, with tremendous strength and a multitude of heavily weighted armour. He was a champion in the art of war, and he was confident in his ability to kill. He shouted down the enemy lines, arrogant and hostile, certain that no one would be able to defeat him.

Second, David, a young man with no armour, didn’t spare the atrocities of war when he brought down Goliath. He boldly told the giant Philistine, “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” (1 Samuel 17:46). Then, he struck down Goliath with a single stone, took Goliath’s own sword from its sheath, and cut off Goliath’s head, even though he was already dead.

It’s not a children’s story.

But, all of us do have a Goliath. Take a minute and give it some thought. You can probably think of a giant in your life holding you back from your full potential, stopping you from moving forward with faith and conviction.

The first step in watching your Goliath fall is to identify the giant.

Your giant could be fear, anxiety, or depression.

It could be a sin that keeps on returning to your life, no matter how many times you’ve tried to fight it and promised yourself you’d never let it return. An addiction that you can’t seem to shake.

Your giant could be arrogance or pride.

It could be extreme self-doubt or general lack of faith.

Think about it. You more than likely have a Goliath, probably even a few. And even once you feel like you’ve hit one Goliath square in the forehead with a stone, another Goliath might be right around the corner waiting to pounce.

Right now, my Goliath is anxiety in the midst of life’s transitions. I can get anxious over the smallest, most insignificant details that don’t even matter. My anxiety can be crippling, and I know it’s a symptom of a greater problem in my faith journey. I need to learn to trust more.

Have you identified your Goliath? Now, it’s time to recognize your relationship with him.

Is Goliath your second cousin who has been kicked out of the family and now you just try to pretend he doesn’t exist? He still hangs around, but you think if you ignore him enough he’ll go away.

Is Goliath your high school friend who always got you into trouble? You know you shouldn’t keep hanging out with him, but he’s still a lot of fun to be around.

Is Goliath your next-door neighbor who keeps on knocking at the door? You try to keep the door shut, but sometimes you can’t help but open the door and you find yourself face-to-face with a giant.

Is Goliath your enemy? Do you prepare for battle each time you feel like he might be near?

My Goliath is like that next-door neighbor. I hear anxiety knocking at the door. I want to keep the door closed. I don’t want to let him in. But so many times, I cave. I open the door. I let him in, and once I let him in, it’s really hard to make him go back out.

Is this the relationship you want with Goliath?

I don’t know about you, but I don’t to treat Goliath like he’s my next-door neighbor. I want Goliath to be my enemy.

When I hear Goliath’s knock at my door, when I hear his angry threats and thundering footsteps, I want to prepare for battle. I want to call on Jesus and cling to His promises. I want to come against Goliath in the name of the Lord Almighty.

Goliath must be your enemy. If he is anything less, he wins.

We don’t want to watch Goliath win. We want to watch Goliath fall.

If this isn’t the relationship you want to have with your Goliath, change it.

You’re in charge of your relationships. If you don’t want Goliath to be your family, or your friend, or your neighbor, tell him.

It’s time to break up with Goliath. You don’t need to be gentle. Let him know it’s over. Tell him that he’s the enemy. Make your intentions clear.

Your relationship ends now. The battle is right around the corner.

Goliath is the enemy. Watch him fall.

Now that you’ve named Goliath as the enemy, he’s not going to just walk away. He loves to see you struggle. He thrives on your distress.

He isn’t afraid to fight. Goliath is a warrior. He’ll come against you with a sword and a spear and a javelin, flinging insults and making threats.

But you don’t have to be afraid to fight back. You’re coming at him in the name of the Lord Almighty, the King of Kings, the Creator of the Universe. God is on your side.

Call on Jesus. Arm yourself with His presence in the face of your Goliath.

And watch Goliath fall.

It might not be just one battle. In fact, Goliath tends to return. But you are a powerful warrior in Christ. You can keep fighting back.

Watch your Goliath fall, and be joyful as your struggles come crashing to the ground.

And never forget… you are onederfully created.

Love,
Becca