Contributed by Adeline Ting • Sep 12, 2023
David and Goliath, the slingshot and the pebble. I’ve always liked this story when I was a child, as you get to root for the underdog in this story (David). He was a shepherd boy who stood against the giant Goliath, without a single sword but armed only with his humble sling and pebbles. But the story goes deeper than that. David was, in fact, not alone. He was armoured with trust and confidence in the living God. And in a very subtle way, David was prepared by God to do great things through the little things that he did. And when David was equipped, he was placed where God wants him to be, and to do the things God wants him to do, so that David goes down in history as the one favoured by God that will bring glory to God. So yes, ultimately, the story is about the greater purpose of God.
I am no David, but I have my fair share of goliaths. They come in all shapes and sizes, and as various challenges and burdens, either in the space of family, workplace, church community or in ministry. They can be difficult people, problems, issues, hurdles, distractions, among others. These goliaths come and go in the various seasons of my life. But through it all, I am humbled that God has stayed beside me, carried me through and given me breakthroughs that reaffirmed my faith. I have learnt to turn to God in prayer, and to surrender to His will. And I am grateful that God is faithful through it all. No goliath is too big or small to God as He helps me overcome them the same. God meets my prayer for my goliaths, sometimes with a “Yes”, “No”, more often with a “Wait”. And I have learnt to understand that “No” and “Wait” are good answers too. Looking back, I am thankful for the “Yes” in His providence at times of need. And I am grateful to God for taking me out of places where I thought I would be happy, and placing me where I should be where I still find the joy to labour faithfully after 13 years. I am positive about the “No” when we prayed for healing that did not happen, as lives were touched when my mother returned home to be with the Lord. I am thankful for the “Wait” as all good things come to those who wait on the Lord. “Wait” is really the greatest learning curve I have experienced in overcoming my goliaths, as it teaches me to face my goliaths with a stronger spirit and greater sustenance that can only come from the grace of God.
So, yes, the story of David and Goliath goes beyond the sling and the pebbles. It is about emerging victorious when you put your trust in God. And this trust can only be nurtured through our relationship with God, so that we grow in confidence and faith and walk right with God with our heads held high. I still have goliaths to do battle with, but I am not alone.