Got Any Giants?

“Got any rivers you think are uncrossable?

Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through?

God specializes in things thought impossible.

He can do things others cannot do.”

                        –Author Unknown

That little chorus is running through my mind this morning. Many of us learned to sing it in Sunday School when we were children. Children have a great deal of faith. They have no trouble believing that God can do anything but sometimes we adults  lose sight of that fact.

King David, before he became king of Israel and while he was yet a shepherd boy, had no problem with believing God is not fenced in by boundaries. David believed and trusted God his whole life. The story of David’s courage and faith is recorded as an inspiration for generations that came after him. I’m talking about when he met face to face with the giant of the Philistine army (see I Samuel 17).

I can imagine the giant, big, covered with armor, roaring insults at David. Intimidating, powerful, without mercy, this champion of the Philistines would cause the strongest men to cower and run for cover. But not David.  Goliath could hardly believe his eyes when he saw before him, not a soldier dressed for battle but a young boy with seemingly no defense at all. Amazingly, the giant’s taunts didn’t  faze David. He trusted in the One who created the universe and held all power in His hand. David realized that he was certainly no match for the giant but God was more than a match so David faced the giant and told him he was going to take him down. And he did. David said, “You come to me with  sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies” (I Samuel 17:45). And, of course, we know the rest. With one rock hurled from his slingshot, David dropped the unstoppable menace to the Israelites.

I haven’t seen any Philistine giants out and about lately but I certainly have met with obstacles that loom as large and terrible in my mind as Goliath did to the Israelites. At these times, it seems the problem is so big, it blocks out the sun or any hope of victory. Those are the times I’ve lost sight of God’s power; the times when my faith wavers. The only way to clear my eyesight and ease my mind is to turn to the One who stood there  in the field with David. In the pages of the Bible are recorded stories that encourage me. When threatened by powerful forces that make me want to throw up my hands in defeat, I’ve got to remember that I am on the Lord’s side and God is enough.

Many times I think of that old hymn that I don’t hear much any more, but it is a reassuring, faith-filled song by Ruth Caye Jones:

“In times like these, I have a Savior;

In times like these, I have an anchor; 

I’m very sure, I’m very sure

My anchor holds and grips the solid rock.