We all face giants; they tower and taunt leaving us feeling hopeless and small.
Worry may be your giant. Though you know God is faithful, you may doubt.
Ironically, feeling inadequate is one of my giants. Who knew feeling small could be a giant?
Getting out of my feelings, might I suggest that junk food is a giant I battle too? Giants come in different names and sizes. But I might mention that Goliath, the Philistine giant told about in 1 Samuel 17, is in every way like the giants we face.
Giants press close.
v. 41 Meanwhile the Philistine, with his shield-bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David
v. 48 ..... the Philistine moved closer to attack him....
What better way to loom large? Giants come close. With no regard for safe space, giants inch-in to intimidate. As they become intimate, they know your weak spot and that's where you get hit.
Giants are persistent.
v. 16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and every evening and took his stand.
v. 23 Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance....
v. 25 "Do you see how this man keeps coming out"...
Those giants we face don't leave without a fight. My giant, worry, meets me at every corner. Some giants meet us every morning. Giants aren't easily frightened or phased. Some giants temporarily defeated come back, again......and again.
What seems to be a new giant is usually much like an old giant. All giants can be fought in much the same way, as we're told by David:
34 When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 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.”
The bad news is; we face the same type of "giant" over and over.
The good news is: We have the same mighty line of defense (God) for each giant and every battle.
Maybe most comforting, we never face giants alone.
David's counterparts seemed to have forgotten. Sometimes I seem to forget. God won't allow a giant in your midst that he won't help you battle.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9