At the start of the 2022 calendar year, I started New Morning Mercies, a daily devotional, by Paul David Tripp. I have enjoyed spending time with the Lord in this devotional most mornings, and a specific daily devotional really impacted me that I'll elaborate on below!
The David & Goliath passage from scripture is often one that is misunderstood or misrepresented. In this story the Israelite army is about to face off with the Philistine army in the Valley of Elah (Valley of Elah Photos Below Are From Our MOAM '19 Mission Trip To Israel), and a giant warrior from the Philistine army, Goliath, called for the Israelite army to send out its best man to battle him. Though the Lord had promised to deliver the Philistines into the hands of the Israelites, the Israelites were filled with fear and retreated to their tents to seek discernment on what to do next. Amidst this situation the Israelites had not only forgotten the Lord's promises, but they had also forgotten their identity in Him, and were filled with anxiousness and timidity. The Israelites doubted the Lord's providence and sovereignty and felt that they had no chance to be victorious in battle.
While delivering lunch to his brothers, David, a shepherd boy, who heard of Goliath disrespecting the Israelite army, answered Goliath's challenge. David wasn't the strongest, the smartest, nor was he arrogant, but David knew who he was and where his identity was rooted in, as a child of the living God! David proceeded to win the duel and a victory for the Israelite army. Today, as Christians we can often do what the Israelite army did, and root our identity in things of this world as opposed to rooting our identity in Christ. We can also fall into living in fear, as opposed to living in the courage and hope that comes through faith in Christ, and the gift of salvation. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called, and just like He did with David, don't doubt how He can use you and your gifts for His glory! Lastly, I wanted to encourage you all, wherever the Lord has planted you, to remember your identity as God's child, to remember His promises and to live in the freedom, joy and faith that David emulated in this passage from scripture.