Feb 3, 2019
It is so easy to come into struggle or when things don’t go exactly go how you hoped, to want to quit. The feelings of discomfort, and failure create thoughts of retreat. It’s in moments like these that we embrace the struggle and charge forward.
In 1 Samuel 17 after David sells Saul on his ability to confront this struggle, named Goliath, he prepared for the confrontation. Saul gave David his tunic, coat of armor, helmet and sword. David walked around to get a feel for how everything felt. “‘I cannot go in these,’ he said to Saul, ‘because I am not used to them.’ So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:39-40
In David’s preparations he threw off what would hinder him from moving forward; all the armor Saul gave him to wear. He gathered all he needed to accomplish the task at hand.
In times of struggle and opposition and even when your own thoughts and emotions work against you, get real clear on your vision, on where you are going. Get real clear on why you are doing what you are doing, your purpose. Throw off the attitude of retreat, embrace the struggle and charge forward.
The Israelite army stayed in the mentality of retreat for forty days. When you procrastinate in taking action, you give fear a rich environment to grow. David showed up on day 40 and that same day embraced the struggle and defeated the enemy. Check out the conversation David and Goliath had, 43-47:
“He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”
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. 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. 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.”
“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.”
Get real clear on who you are, why you are and what you are capable of in God, and go kill some giants. Embrace the struggle and charge forward.