HOW TO FACE LIFE’S DIFFICULTIES
1 Sam. 17:45, Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword & with a spear & with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. ESV
Intro: Almost everyone knows the story of David & Goliath. The Israelites had pitched their camp on one side of the mountain, & the Philistines on the other side. There was a valley between them. From out of the army of the Philistines came a giant named Goliath. He was a big. Some say that his height ran to almost twelve feet. For many days this giant stood & cried unto the armies of Israel: I Samuel 17:8-10, He stood & shouted to the ranks of Israel, Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, & are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, & let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me & kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him & kill him, then you shall be our servants & serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together. ESV When Saul & the Israelites heard these words, they were afraid. But God always has a person for every situation. They may seem a very unlikely person, but there is always someone to stand for God’s cause. In this instance it was David, a shepherd boy, sent to carry food to his brothers in the army of Saul. As he talked with his brothers, the giant came forth & gave his challenge. David saw that the people were afraid. He asked why they allowed this thing to go on. Finally, he turned to King Saul & said, 1Sa 17:32, …"Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." ESV Saul tried to discourage him, but David was determined to go against Goliath. Saul’s armor was put on David, but he refused it.
His weapons were his staff, five smooth stones & his sling. When the giant saw the boy, he said, " 1 Sam. 17:43, …Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. ESV David’s first words to the giant indicate his strength. 1 Sam. 17:46,47, “I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel…for the battle is the Lord’s, & He will give you into our hands."
The giant arose & came to meet David. As David ran to meet him, he took a stone, put it in the sling, & threw it at the Philistine. It struck him in the forehead, & he fell upon his face. The victory was won.
In this simple story we find a lesson on how to face our difficulties. We all will face difficulties in our life. The devil as you in his sights. He wants to destroy your faith. He wants you to crumble under the pressures of life. He wants you to compromise your principles. He wants you to surrender your commitment & take the broad way; but remember it is the narrow road that leads to life everlasting.
On every hand there are hindrances, obstacles & difficulties to be overcome. The success of your life depends on how you face your trials. David had three things to help him as he faced the giant. I. COURAGE. We admire courage anywhere we find it. There is a need in our day for people of courage. But sometimes it takes danger to bring forth courage. ILL- There is a legend which tells of someone who thought to honor Alexander the Great by giving him three dogs of matchless courage. Shortly after he received the dogs, Alexander decided to test them. He had a deer brought before them, but the dogs only yawned & went to sleep. Then he had an antelope put before them. But the dogs were not interested. Alexander, certain that the dogs were worthless, had them killed.
A few days later, the man returned to ask about the dogs. When he was told what had been done to them, he said, "Alexander, you are a great king, but you are a very foolish man. You showed them a deer & an antelope, & they paid no attention. But if you had turned a lion & a tiger loose on them, you would have seen what brave dogs I have given you." Yes, it is danger that brings forth courage.
It was danger of death that displayed the courage of the 3 Hebrew children. All threats & all danger could not make them bow down before an idol. It was danger that showed the courage of Daniel. No power on earth could stop him from praying unto God.
It was danger that showed the courage of David as he killed the Giant. It was danger that showed the courage of Samson as he killed 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey.
It was danger that showed the courage of Paul. He did not flinch from any adversary or any difficulty. Have courage as you face your difficulties. Let your courage stem from your assurance that God is with you in any situation no matter how frightening that situation may be.
II. MEMORY. When Saul argued with David about his desire to fight the Philistine, David said: 1 Sam. 17: 37,…"The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion & from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine…” David went forth with the memory of God’s power & God’s deliverance in former days. One of our mistakes as we face our trials, temptations, & difficulties is that we fail to remember all that God has done for us. Remember what God has done for you. Remember God’s provision & protection through the days of the past. His power has not changed. As He once delivered you, so will He now deliver you. Let your memory work for you as it did for David. Remember the power of God & His past performances in your behalf. III. FAITH. David had faith in God. Even though he knew how to use a sling & stone; it was not his skill that won the battle, but his faith in God.
Faith in God overcomes obstacles. David was just a youth, & the giant a man of experience. Faith looks beyond all difficulties to God who is greater than all. Never let your faith in God waver. God can be trusted no matter what the situation is. True faith is confidence that God is who He says He is & confidence that He will do everything He has promised to do.
