Quick Recap:
-1st week in new Country
-No language ability
-Tiny motel, tiny sink, tiny fridge, tiny toddler
-Dead vehicle
-Brother Stuck
-Mom diagnosed with 2nd round of Hepatitis C (side effects of medicine is similar to cancer)
David & Goliath
‘David said to the Philistine,
“You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
1 Sam 17:45-47
Do you ever wonder, why at this point in the story God didn't kill Goliath with an insta plague or a lightning bolt? David gave an amazing speech! Why did David still have to actually fight Goliath?
David had proven himself faithful.
He had left his dad and his flock – probably, the main source of income for his family.
He had stepped out from the protection of people.
And--he professed to a giant and an entire army, he believed in a God. . . who would destroy them.
And yet. . . God didn’t instantly kill Goliath. No lightning bolt or insta plague. No hailstorm or flaming bush.
Nope, instead David actually ran out into the valley with a measly rock and sling taking on a giant 2x his size. What a NUT!
Why? Why did David have to fight Goliath?
Surely, if we have faith like David's, God will bless. . . .right?
If we believe like David. . .God will act. . . right?
If we are faithful like David. . . we move, we give up our stuff, or we give our money away --God will bless. . . right?
"The battle is the Lord’s"
David trusted in the Lord Almighty.
He trusted in who he was.
He trusted in the skills he had honed,
and he faithfully pursued Goliath until he was defeated.
David fought with God. It was God's battle. God provided the protection and the victory but David fought along side God.
"The battle is the Lord’s"
This is such a remarkable story! Don’t we all want to have a faith like David? Don’t we all want to run headfirst, into the biggest challenge ever, and defeat it with one blow?
Physical pain and suffering. . . bam! Gone!
Mental pain and suffering. . .bam! Gone!
Heartache. . . bam! Gone!
Broken car. . . bam! Fixed!
. . . .
. . . .
Lying in bed (I know. . . yep in bed, not running after Goliath yet), I caught myself telling God,
“Ok God, I totally have David’s faith! See. . . I will prove it to you. . .
I moved away from my home,
I left my family and friends,
I sold my house.
God, isn't it obvious, I have a faith like David.
So God . . I trust you are going to fix this. . .
Now!
Bam!
Go!
Lighting. . . insta plague. . . Do your thing God!”
. . . . .
. . . . .
4 days later. . . still nothing was fixed. My mom was sick, my brother’s life was still at risk, we were running out of food, and our shiny snazzy SUV still broken.
I sat on the bed (yep, on the bed again) and cried:
“God, why are all these things happening I can’t fix? ”
“Liz, you have to learn to fight with me. Standing on a beach, worshiping me under the stars is beautiful, but now. . .its time to join me in battle. David didn't stand and wait, he joined the fight with me. You, Liz, need to join with me in the fight."
‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God goes with you wherever you go.’”
Joshua 1:9
“Father-God, I want to fight with you, but honestly. . . I would rather you to take it all away!"
“Liz, I could but. . . the story will be better if we fight together. The story will be better because you will experience my love for you in deeper ways. The story will be better because your character will become more like Jesus. The story will be better because your faith will deepens its roots into my character. The story will be better because we will do this together.”
Deep Breath. . . . . . another deep breath. . . . . . .another Deeper breath. . . . . and. . .
“Ok, God, I am ready to fight. Please carry me, hold me close and give me your courage to fight and trust your power, your goodness, and your love.”
Time for me to get off the bed and fight with God!
A few weeks later our car was fixed, my brother was safe, and my mom. . . unfortunately was really sick. It was another 9 months before her hep C went in remission. But. . . God graciously healed her. Now - I didn't rescue my brother (that would have been totally awesome) or magically fix our car. I prayer and put my stress and anxiety back on God. We walked the streets until we found a tiny open grocery store and we took steps to find housing. It was a daily--well. . . honestly an hourly--battle of surrendering stress and anxiety to God.
“The battle is the Lord’s.”
. . . . .
. . . . .
Now, looking back a few years later, I can see our first weeks in Hungary were just the beginning battles the Lord and I would fight together. Those days were the training ground preparing me for the next 5 years.
I have since found myself back on the bed, crying out to him to change my heart, give me his perspective and trust in his love and goodness.
He graciously brings to mind battles we have fought together to remind me of his faithfulness in my life.
“The battle is the LORD’s.”
The battle is better if we fight it with God.
God will use it for us to know his love in deeper ways.
He will use it to form our character to become more like Jesus.
He will use it to deepen our faith
The battle. . . will become an amazing story. . .if we fight it with God.
Standing for the Truth like David, means declaring Truth during opposition.
Believing in Truth like David, means stepping away from the protection of others.
Fighting for the Truth like David, means fighting with what may feel like a measly rock but believing God will turn it into a cannon.
A cannon that heals what needs to heal,
Changes hearts ready to change,
Holds us close when we are fearful,
Encourages when we need encouraging
And turns our fear into steadfastness and determination.
I know I am still on the road of becoming like David:
Sometimes I want to give up during opposition.
Fear overwhelms me when struggles are monstrous.
and I get cranky when I am stressed.
What areas of your life is God growing you to become more like David?
