Facing Giants: Trusting God in Life's Challenges
Summary
Taking a break from our series on Paul's letter to the Corinthians, today we delve into the story of David and Goliath from 1 Samuel 17. This narrative is not just a tale of a young shepherd defeating a giant warrior; it is a profound lesson on facing the giants in our own lives. Goliath, a towering figure, represents the overwhelming challenges we encounter—be it health issues, financial struggles, or personal conflicts. These giants can seem insurmountable, but like David, we are called to view them not as obstacles, but as opportunities to trust in God.
David's story teaches us that the giants we face are not meant to paralyze us with fear but to propel us into deeper faith. The Israelites saw Goliath as an unbeatable obstacle, but David saw him as an opportunity to demonstrate God's power. This perspective shift is crucial for us. We must learn to see our problems through the lens of God's sovereignty, recognizing that He is bigger than any challenge we face.
Moreover, David's victory was not just a result of his courage but also his faithfulness in the small things. Before facing Goliath, David had been faithful in tending his father's sheep and protecting them from lions and bears. This faithfulness in small matters prepared him for the monumental task of defeating Goliath. Similarly, we must learn to trust God in the everyday challenges, allowing these experiences to build our faith for the bigger battles.
Remembering God's past faithfulness is another key to overcoming our giants. David recalled how God had delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear, which gave him confidence that God would deliver him from Goliath as well. We too must remember the ways God has worked in our lives, using these memories to fuel our faith for current and future challenges.
Finally, we must trust God to work through us. David did not rely on his own strength or abilities but trusted that God would deliver Goliath into his hands. In the same way, we are called to step out in faith, trusting that God will work through us to overcome the giants we face. Whatever challenges you are facing today, trust that God is with you and will give you the strength to overcome.
Key Takeaways:
- Giants in our lives are not obstacles but opportunities to trust God. When we face overwhelming challenges, we must shift our perspective and see them as chances to deepen our faith and reliance on God. [08:08]
- Faithfulness in small matters prepares us for greater challenges. Like David, who was faithful in tending sheep before facing Goliath, we must learn to trust God in everyday situations to build our faith for larger battles. [19:50]
- Remembering God's past faithfulness fuels our faith for current challenges. Reflecting on how God has worked in our lives before can give us the confidence to trust Him with our present and future struggles. [28:27]
- Trusting God to work through us is essential in overcoming our giants. David's victory over Goliath was not due to his own strength but because he trusted God to deliver him. We must also rely on God's power to face our challenges. [39:42]
- God is bigger than any problem we face. By viewing our challenges through the lens of God's sovereignty, we can trust that He is in control and will provide the strength and guidance we need to overcome. [17:59]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:56] - Goliath's Challenge
[04:15] - Visualizing Goliath
[06:08] - Facing Our Giants
[08:08] - Opportunities to Trust God
[10:08] - David's Background
[12:07] - David's Arrival
[13:08] - Israel's Fear
[15:38] - David's Confidence
[17:04] - Trusting God Over Fear
[19:50] - Faithfulness in Small Things
[21:07] - David's Obedience
[23:04] - Trusting God in Everyday Life
[24:36] - Remembering Past Victories
[28:27] - God's Faithfulness
[38:45] - Trusting God to Work Through Us
[39:42] - David's Preparation
[41:22] - David's Confidence in God
[42:12] - David's Victory
[44:28] - Trusting God with Our Giants
[46:40] - Trusting God Like a Child
[47:47] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Facing the Giants in Our Lives
Bible Reading:
- 1 Samuel 17:1-11, 16-37, 45-50
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the reaction of the Israelites when they first saw Goliath, and how did it contrast with David's perspective? ([08:08])
2. How did David's past experiences as a shepherd prepare him for his encounter with Goliath? ([19:50])
3. What did David use to defeat Goliath, and why was this significant? ([39:42])
4. How did David's faith in God influence his confidence in facing Goliath? ([41:22])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of David and Goliath illustrate the concept of viewing challenges as opportunities to trust God rather than obstacles? ([08:08])
2. In what ways does David's faithfulness in small tasks reflect the importance of being faithful in everyday life before facing larger challenges? ([19:50])
3. How can remembering God's past faithfulness help individuals face current challenges with confidence? ([28:27])
4. What does David's reliance on God rather than his own strength teach about the source of true victory over life's giants? ([41:22])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a current challenge in your life. How can you shift your perspective to see it as an opportunity to trust God rather than an insurmountable obstacle? ([08:08])
2. Identify a small task or responsibility in your life where you can practice faithfulness. How might this prepare you for larger challenges in the future? ([19:50])
3. Recall a time when God was faithful in your past. How can this memory encourage you to trust Him with a present difficulty? ([28:27])
4. Consider a situation where you have relied on your own strength rather than God's. How can you begin to trust God more fully in this area? ([41:22])
5. What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of God's sovereignty and power when facing a daunting problem? ([17:59])
6. Think of a "giant" in your life that you need to confront. What specific action can you take this week to step out in faith and trust God to work through you? ([44:28])
7. How can you incorporate prayer and reflection on God's Word into your daily routine to strengthen your faith and reliance on Him? ([23:49])
Devotional
Day 1: Viewing Challenges as Opportunities for Faith
In life, we often encounter challenges that seem overwhelming, much like the giant Goliath. These challenges can be health issues, financial struggles, or personal conflicts. However, these giants are not meant to paralyze us with fear but to propel us into deeper faith. David's story in 1 Samuel 17 illustrates this beautifully. While the Israelites saw Goliath as an unbeatable obstacle, David saw him as an opportunity to demonstrate God's power. This shift in perspective is crucial for us. We must learn to see our problems through the lens of God's sovereignty, recognizing that He is bigger than any challenge we face. By doing so, we transform obstacles into opportunities to trust God more deeply. [08:08]
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one challenge you are currently facing that feels insurmountable? How can you shift your perspective to see it as an opportunity to trust God more deeply today?
Day 2: Faithfulness in Small Matters Prepares Us for Greater Challenges
David's victory over Goliath was not just a result of his courage but also his faithfulness in the small things. Before facing Goliath, David had been faithful in tending his father's sheep and protecting them from lions and bears. This faithfulness in small matters prepared him for the monumental task of defeating Goliath. Similarly, we must learn to trust God in the everyday challenges, allowing these experiences to build our faith for the bigger battles. By being faithful in the small things, we prepare ourselves for the greater challenges that lie ahead. [19:50]
"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." (Luke 16:10, ESV)
Reflection: What small task or responsibility in your life can you approach with greater faithfulness today, trusting that it is preparing you for something greater?
Day 3: Remembering God's Past Faithfulness
David recalled how God had delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear, which gave him confidence that God would deliver him from Goliath as well. Remembering God's past faithfulness is a powerful way to fuel our faith for current challenges. When we reflect on how God has worked in our lives before, it gives us the confidence to trust Him with our present and future struggles. By keeping a record of God's faithfulness, we can draw strength and encouragement for the battles we face today. [28:27]
"I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds." (Psalm 77:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: Take a moment to recall a specific instance where you experienced God's faithfulness in your life. How can this memory encourage you in a current challenge you are facing?
Day 4: Trusting God to Work Through Us
David did not rely on his own strength or abilities but trusted that God would deliver Goliath into his hands. In the same way, we are called to step out in faith, trusting that God will work through us to overcome the giants we face. Whatever challenges you are facing today, trust that God is with you and will give you the strength to overcome. By relying on God's power rather than our own, we can face our giants with confidence and courage. [39:42]
"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 4:6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are relying on your own strength instead of trusting God to work through you? How can you begin to rely more on His power today?
Day 5: God is Bigger Than Any Problem We Face
By viewing our challenges through the lens of God's sovereignty, we can trust that He is in control and will provide the strength and guidance we need to overcome. David's confidence in facing Goliath came from his understanding that God was bigger than any problem he faced. This same truth applies to us today. No matter how daunting our challenges may seem, we can trust that God is greater and will see us through. By keeping our focus on God's greatness, we can face our giants with assurance and peace. [17:59]
"Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you." (Jeremiah 32:17, ESV)
Reflection: What is one problem in your life that you need to view through the lens of God's sovereignty? How can you remind yourself today that God is bigger than this problem?
Quotes
Here are the selected quotes with timestamps:
"Now, thank you. Thank you. Thank you all. As we talk about Goliath this morning, we are going to symbolically, and I'm not going to talk about this a lot. Now we'll talk about it a little bit more at lunchtime. We're going to symbolically compare, uh, the remaining debt we have. We talked about this five smooth stones project. Um, and actually not a huge giant. We're down to about $110,000 debt on our church building. We're going to compare, uh, that giant to something we want to knock out. Okay. So that's why we've called it the five smooth stones project. But this morning I want to talk just about our everyday lives. Friends, there are all sorts of giants that we must face in our lives today. Amen." [00:06:08] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Friends, there are, there are, uh, health giants that come along sickness, whether it's cancer or some disease or something, maybe that one of your parents has faced. There are mental health giants that people face those things of depression and anxiety and other mental health things, problems that people struggle with. There are family problems. Maybe right now there's a marriage problem in your home that nobody else knows about. But to you, it is looming like a giant in your life." [00:06:52] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Number one, friends, we can learn how to have victory, how to defeat the giants in our lives by realizing that the giants in our lives are not obstacles. Listen, you run up to a huge man, a mammoth of a man like that, like, it can seem like an obstacle, but they're not obstacles, friends. They are opportunities to trust God. The giants in our lives are not obstacles. They are opportunities to trust God." [00:08:52] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Friends, whatever kind of giant you are facing in your life, I would encourage you to look at that giant. Look at that problem in view or in light of God. Not from our perspective, we're looking up on the giant. Can I just tell you something? God is looking down. God is bigger than any problem we can ever face. You say, Pastor, what do you mean to look at my problem in light or through the eyes of God? Listen, let me ask you one question. Who allowed that circumstance in your life? God did. Did it surprise him?" [00:18:01] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"God will always test you in small matters before giving you responsibility in big matters. And the small things, the small stuff friends is where we learn how to trust God first. Amen. It's where we learn how to trust God first. How do you handle the small things? How do you handle everyday frustration? If you don't handle everyday frustration well, when something big comes along, no wonder you panic or you blow up. Learn how to turn those everyday frustrations over to the Lord." [00:22:40] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Friends, if you don't handle the small, you say, well, you know, they're just little bitty things. They don't even really bother anything. No, but there are opportunities God's giving you to trust him. How do you handle those small things? Do you pray about it? Do you, do you put small matters into his hands or you just say, you know what? I can handle the small stuff, pastor. Friends, how are you ever going to be able to trust him with the big things if you leave him out of the small stuff?" [00:23:17] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Friends, remembering how God has worked in the past will help you trust him in the future. I have to admit to you that sometimes I forget all the things that God's done in my life. Sometimes I don't talk about it enough to myself or to others, but I want to share with you. just a couple of things that in the life of kind of me as your pastor and our church here of how God has worked. And I could go on and on with many of them." [00:28:46] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
"Friends, God wants us to trust him. He wants to prove himself faithful to us. He is faithful. Amen. Whether we trust him with our problems, God is faithful and he, he, he, um, never fails. So why do we doubt him? Trust him with whatever issue and problem you have. Listen, we, as a church, God's going to give us victory. Amen. He's going to continue to work in us and through us and do miraculous things. Friends. He also wants to do that in your life. If you've never surrendered it all to him, I want to encourage you to do that today. Let's pray." [00:47:38] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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