Facing Giants

I woke up before the sun, attune to the melody the Lord was playing that I so often tune out with my thoughts. My senses were acutely aware of my surroundings- the rhythmic ebb and flow of the waves crashing to shore, the pinks and oranges lining the horizon suggesting the rising of the sun, the brisk air blowing through the door and wrinkling the sheets. I thanked the Lord for my breath, only to find out that a few breaths earlier, my grandma was receiving some hard news from the doctor—the same news that my grandpa had received only a year before. It made me cling tighter to the gifts that were around me. It was one of those sobering moments that remind me that my days are numbered and life is a vapor.

An hour later, I toasted my friend over breakfast as we overlooked the Med on the balcony. She asked what we were toasting to- a question that caught me off guard- like there has to be an occasion to celebrate. I believe we should celebrate because we are alive, because we have the gift of breath, because the Lord is good.

We sat and watched the sunlight splash gold into the sea as the waves rolled up to the shore. We ate like queens as we talked about how unfair life was without her even knowing the news that I had received that morning. Yes, we can gather that it is highly unfair. Only the night before, we had sat on this same balcony discussing the joys, struggles, lessons and memories of the past year and the promises, joys and expectations of the coming year. We talked about places our feet had tread and stories of people who had captured our hearts. We spoke of children in orphanages who emanated the joy that each of us should carry, and of beggars on the street who have more hope than those with large houses and a steady income.

The next day, I received news of a sweet new life brought into the world as my cousin rejoiced over his first-born child born 8 weeks early (thankfully healthy and beautiful). Hours later, I received news of a friend I had grown up with going into emergency surgery for a head trauma he had received after falling at work.

None of these circumstances phased me in the way that I would assume they would. I claimed the healing of Christ over them right away. I know the God who knit them together in their mother’s womb- the same God who is called the great physician- the God who delights in miracles. To say that worry wasn’t there would be a lie, but alongside that worry came a greater peace.

At church that same weekend, the message was about David- a man who fought lions and bears, battles and giants. David walked into the battle with the giant, Goliath, proclaiming victory from the start. He looked at the situation in front of him, came in the name of the Lord, and stood confident in how it would end. He knew the Lord was with him. I realized in the midst of the message that no battle is bigger than another. In our lives, more practically, whether it’s a financial burden, an illness, or a seemingly small problem, they are essentially all the same. We serve a God who will never leave nor forsake us. We serve a God who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow- He changes not. Even picture evidence from a doctor should not cause us to flinch, because His character is not altered based on circumstance. The mountains before us may seem to vary in size, but the outcomes are the same, assured by a never changing God. He has guaranteed the victory.

I admit that I am not always instantly optimistic in the face of adversity. I, like Joshua, sometimes need to be reminded by the Lord to be strong and courageous. But then like David, I try to run towards the enemy with a stone in hand, confident in the one who goes before me. I don't have to sit in defeat or allow worry to tempt me to inaction.

I have been learning a lot from David in terms of coming from a place of fullness that is derived from a deep intimacy with God. It's easy to look at circumstances and want to walk the other way, but it takes a confidence that comes from reaching into that deep well to face the mountains and proclaim who God is. David recognized the many ways we can commune with the Lord- as father, as provider, as shepherd, as friend, etc. He came to the Lord with a yielding and surrendered heart and experienced joy, peace and worship in the midst of trial and hardship. He came with the humility of a shepherd, and the authority of a king. He meditated on the goodness of God and reminded himself often of the things God had done. He ran in relentless pursuit of knowing and understanding the heart of God, and despite his many shortcomings, he was called a man after God's own heart. 

In the midst of challenges, our character is built. When I am learning things, God always seems to give me plenty of opportunity to make sure that what I am getting revelation on is deeply engrained within me. It's one thing for me to sit here claiming His goodness to whoever may read this, but it means nothing unless I am living the truth of it on the other side of the screen. Whether it's in joy and celebration or struggle and hardship, I want to stand in intimacy with Christ and proclaim Him based on the truth that I know, so through my character others are drawn to Him.