Struggling Well With Life

I have been reading in I Samuel, and this morning landed on an all familiar story.  David and Golliath.  Sometimes when you read what is familiar, your mind finishes the story before your eyes have finished reading. Today, I tried to move slowly, and pondered on the familiar.  David was the youngest in his family, in fact when his father presented his sons, David was out tending to the sheep.  Last borns are not often taken seriously.  When David’s father sent him to the battle lines to bring food to his brothers, he walked right into the threat of the Philistines, and their giant warrior Golliath.  David did not go from wandering pensive shepherd to slaying the giant.  The text tells us that David was no stranger to opposition, and implies that David had seen God come through for him a few times before his confrontation with Golliath.  He had defended the sheep by slaying lions, and snatching sheep from the jaws of bears.  David had seen God do a mighty work, in and through him, long before Golliath, and it was on this history with God, and a personal confidence that the Almighty would deliver like he had before, that encouraged him to defend his people in the name of God.  Not sure what you might be facing today, but take a look back, think about the lions, and tigers, and bears that God has empowerred you to slay, for he has rescued us time and time again.  Allow your history of God’s faithfulness to encourage and empower you to trust him today.