Preparation-1/21/2012

"And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground." 1 Sam 17:49

There are few who are not well familiar with the story of David's triumph against Goliath. He was a child with 5 smooth stones and a leather sling shot prevailing against a 9 foot armored giant who had put immobilizing fear into an entire army of soldiers and their king. How could this boy have the temerity to even think such a thing let alone attempt it and accomplish it? Observe what the word says about what took place before this famous event:

• Then Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth while he has been a warrior from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant was tending his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him, and rescued it from his mouth; and when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and may the LORD be with you.”

Beloved, David was confident and able for two reasons: God had prepared him and God was with him. Often when troubles come our way, we bemoan our situation and ask, "Why me Lord?" To be sure there may be a variety of answers, however, we must consider that the Lord may be preparing us to prevail at a bigger challenge down the road. Teams do not win championships without painful and exhausting preparation. Individuals do not succeed without testing themselves against lesser obstacles for extended amounts of time. There is no strengthening without effort against resistance. This is why James encourages us to "Count it all joy when we enter in to diverse trials; knowing that the proving of your faith produces perseverance," Jas 1:2-3. Life is filled with struggles. Each is an opportunity to grow and learn in order to be able to prevail against the next. When you again see obstacles, issues, circumstances and situations that fill you with fear and dread, think of little David fighting lions and bears and Goliath. His God is your God and is likewise with you.

Rejoicing in the Lord,
Lee