Honestly, I do not like difficulty! I would so rather have compliant students who are eager to learn and soar to great heights. I would love it if all the people in my life would just not irritate me. I wish I could stay healthy and fit without exercising and by eating all the chocolate, Blue Bell ice cream, and fabulous southern food from my childhood (think fried okra, blackberry cobbler, homemade rolls) that I want. I am old! I want peace and comfort and perfection! I want what I want! But, God knows that my life would be so less "interesting" if I got all I wanted, and He knows that if I'm ever going to get anywhere close to being who He designed me to be, I will have to face down the giants in my life - even if it would be easier to ignore or give into them. He's rather insistent that I develop the ability to defeat them! Therefore, He allows the "challenges" so I develop my "trust-in-Him muscles."
Little did David the Giant Slayer know when he was out herding sheep, playing his harp, and fighting off the occasional lion or bear that one day he would use the experiences and skills he developed to bring down a 10 foot tall heavily armed giant with a slingshot and a stone (I Samuel 17). Yet, sure enough, that is exactly what happened. He proclaimed to King Saul with absolute confidence that the God who had delivered him from wild animals would deliver Goliath to him (I Samuel 17:34-37). Saul wasn't so sure this kid could actually defeat the giant with just a slingshot and stones, so he dressed him up in official "go-to-war" garb. David couldn't even move, so he declined the offer and simply took up the tools of his trade - shepherd's staff, slingshot and five smooth stones - and, most importantly, "the name of God" (I Samuel 17:45-47). He went before the giant battle-ready because God had been preparing him for this moment!
As we go about our daily lives meeting up with all the irritations and inconveniences that we just really wish would go away, rarely do we understand that those very things may be put in our lives so that God can begin to develop in us the skills and "weapons" we may need to slay the giants that will come in our lives. David had to first face the lions and bears and defeat them to know that God was fighting for him. He had to have those victories to be strong and confident enough in God to take on the bigger challenge, Goliath. We have to also meet whatever challenges come our way to be prepared for greater ones that will inevitably come. He's giving us our own opportunities to build our trust in Him so that we can overcome with confidence.
Just as David couldn't go up against Goliath in Saul's armor, we can't fight the giants in our lives through the strength or experiences of another person. We have to go forth using the strength God has developed in us. We do have custom-fitted armor for every battle, though. Ephesians 6:11 tells us to put on the full armor of God "... that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil."
As we prepare for our everyday living, we must go dressed in God's armor - truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God. The giants in our lives - as well as the irritations - can't stand against such weapons! Expect that God will give you many opportunities to "test" your armor. He wants us to be left standing and victorious (see Ephesians 6:11-17).
Heavenly Father, we would rather not have to face bumps in the road of life. We'd rather just enjoy smooth sailing, but You know that without struggles, we can't become strong in our faith in You. Please give us your ability to see situations as You do - that this stuff is coming as a strength-building exercise so that we stand firm against whatever comes against us, having all confidence that You are fighting for us. Thank you, for your whole armor. Amen.
