Rediculous
I’ve heard this word before. There are “naysayers” all over the place. People with an opinion about what I can or can’t do. I’m trying hard to be an optimist for sure. I want to see the glass “half full” instead of “half empty”. There is a difference in how I see things and what I believe to be true. If I have doubts that I can do things, I am way more likely to fail. Confidence and optimism could be cousins.
I came across the classic of David versus Goliath. The odds were definitely NOT in David’s favor. However, if you know the Lord, your outlook might be a good bit different. David hears the threats from the Philistine, and he is fired up. Check this out….
32 “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”
33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”
40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. 51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. (1 Samuel 17:32-33, 40-51 NLT)
I love this story of David and what is revealed about the Lord. David clearly believed in the Presence of the Lord in his life. He strikes me as an optimist with deep faith in God. In fact, his faith was considered “ridiculous” by nearly everyone. I believe that God is Who He says He is. I believe He is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. I believe that He sent it One and only Son to rescue all of us. I believe that I can make it through any trial or suffering that comes my way because of what I believe about God. He is with me. He will help me. I know it might be ridiculous to trust Him, but I’m going with what I know. I have felt His Presence in the midst of struggle and suffering, and I know that the battles I face belong to Him just like David’s battle against Goliath.
Pressing On!
Dwayne