On David and Goliath

My three sons sat snuggled around me, dressed in Superman, Batman, and Buzz Lightyear pajamas, their hair still damp from bath time.

I had hoped to expand their theological exposure with a different story from their favorite Little Boys Bible, but again they insisted we read David and Goliath. 

It’s no wonder, really. The lure towards a hero is a strong one, and not only for little boys. 

Consider the world’s response to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine. A former actor/comedian and measuring a mere 5’7″, his is a true David and Goliath story playing out before our very eyes. Against all odds and with ferocity on behalf of his beloved countrymen, he speaks to parliament after parliament to inspire international assistance, refuses to retreat, and stands in the open square of his Kiev palace with no armor addressing his people, encouraging them to not give up. His heroics in the face of the Philistine-like Putin and Russia have captured the hearts of many. 

The Bible is full of overcomers. Underdogs. The unequipped. Unexpected heroes who win the battle against all odds. There’s Moses and Pharaoh. Gideon and the Midianites. Daniel and the lion’s den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo. The boy with two fish and five loaves of bread. As we come upon another Easter in the midst of a battle-weary world, now is as good of a time as ever to revisit their stories.

In what ways are you feeling inadequate today?

Are you facing the impossible? 

Do you feel like you’ve been thrown in a fiery furnace of pain?

Are you awakening again this morning to what feels like a scorched battlefield of your life?

If you snuggled up to God’s side, I have a hunch He’d pick David and Goliath to read to you. Because God loves to show up for underdogs. 

I love The Message version of David and Goliath. It says Goliath had a sword and spear and battle axe and thick armor and an army. 

But David had God-alive.

I can’t bear to see the photographs of the death and destruction in Ukraine. Closer to home, stories flood my social media feeds of sepsis stealing a beautiful young life in hours, a friend’s cancer returning, divorces and separations, job losses, and on and on. 

Where is our God-alive now? 

Take a moment to be still.

Can you feel Him?

There may be lost battles, but He has won the war.

He has overcome more than giants…he has overcome the grave.

He sees your battle.
He knows your battle.
He is in your battle.
He will not leave you in your battle. 

No matter how small you feel, how inadequate, how impossible the odds against you, you will overcome with His help. 

Because He is God. 

And He is alive!

May you rest in this reminder this Easter season and always, dear friends.