A Sling and a Stone

“For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand. He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy...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…’ Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck…So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone” 1 Samuel 17:16, 35, 49-50

This past week was a glorious time with my family on our annual vacation. It was a three generational smorgasbord of love, laughter and fellowship. Yesterday before everyone left we planned to try our luck at paddle boarding on the Folly River. My granddaughter Kherington had been obsessing over attempting this since her older brother Carson had been so successful at it earlier in the week. Kherington is accustomed to successfully accomplishing everything to which she puts her mind. She jumped on that paddle board and took off, but quickly discovered that it wasn’t as easy as it looked. Later in the week I"ll share the story of what occurred, but suffice it to say she was heartbroken and devastated when she returned to the floating dock with help. She sat there embarrassed, exhausted and defeated. With tears in those big brown round eyes she claimed that she would never do that again.  But the more she watched all of us paddle board, the more she was determined to do it herself. Her emotions were telling her one thing but her inner confidence told her something else. It beckoned her to believe in herself, to not give up on her circumstances and to ‘sling her little stone and defeat the looming giant.’ She reached down deep in her little bag of emotions and pulled out her stones of determination…confidence…courage. She climbed up on that board with her mom, stood up and took hold of the paddle and glided them through the watery giant that earlier taunted her. She commanded her situation through her inner strength.

As I’m thinking about her situation yesterday my mind drifts over into today wondering what Goliath stands looming on your horizon, taunting you morning and evening. What set of circumstances are you facing that requires determination, courage and hope? What is in your bag that you are pulling out daily and is it defeating the giant? We are told in Scripture that we have been equipped for the fight. We are reminded in Scripture that we have the Sword to raise against our foe. We have the ability to look backwards at God’s faithfulness to encourage our hearts in our present situations. When your giant ridicules and taunts you, reach into God’s bag and sling that stone of hope. Sling that stone of belief that God is who He says He is and He will do what He says He will do! Sling that stone of courage that shows your confidence that all things ARE possible through Christ, and that nothing is too big for God to accomplish on behalf of His children.

Until we run through the gates of Heaven, we will face many Goliaths on our path, but we don’t make the journey alone. God is all around us and calming the threatening waves that appear to take us under. Trust in Him alone, sling that stone and watch your Goliath fall!