The Battle After Goliath
A few nights ago, I sat down with my boys to watch the story of David. As an adult who has walked with the Lord for several years, I’ve heard David's story countless times throughout my faith walk, but this time was different. This time, I wasn't just watching it through my own eyes, but through the eyes of my six-year-old son.
As we watched the movie and David’s story unfolded, Roman was completely captivated. He wasn't just entertained by a great cartoon; he was deeply moved by what he was seeing. By the end, he was crying. My sweet boy wrapped his arms around me so tightly, sobbing. Naturally, I started crying too, and we sat there for a little bit talking about what moved him, and then we prayed. I truly believe I witnessed something sacred in that moment. It felt like his first real encounter with the goodness of God on a personal level and the realization that God can use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. As a mother, it was one of those moments I never want to forget. Watching the Spirit of God stir the heart of my baby was far more impactful than any lesson I could have taught him myself.
Over the past few days, I’ve been ruminating over this sweet moment and knew I wanted to journal about it, but as I’ve been reflecting more and more, I found myself thinking about something else entirely. Like so many of us, Roman was drawn to David's courage. We love the story of the shepherd boy who stood before lions and bears, and eventually a giant, with nothing but faith in God. We celebrate the victory, the bravery, and the unwavering trust David displayed, but this wasn’t David’s story. It’s only part of his story. And David wasn't the only man in this story who was chosen by God. Saul was chosen too. Saul was anointed. Saul was given opportunities to honor God and walk in obedience. At one point, both men loved the Lord and had a calling on their lives.
The difference wasn't that one man was perfect and the other wasn't. The reality is that both Saul and David were very human. Both wrestled with the same flesh that you and I wrestle with today. Saul repeatedly gave in to his pride, fear, and desire for control, and over time his heart drifted further and further from God. David, on the other hand, cultivated a heart that continually returned to the Lord. Yet even David wasn't totally immune to failure. This same faithful, God-fearing man who defeated the giant, Goliath, eventually lost a battle of a different kind. He lost to his flesh when it came to Bathsheba.
Sometimes we focus so much on David's victory over the giant that we forget that spiritual victories don't exempt us from future temptation. We forget that being called by God doesn't remove our need for daily dependence on Him. Somewhere along the way, David became comfortable. He became complacent. He stopped fighting some of the quiet battles that happen in the heart long before they ever manifest in our actions. And when complacency moved in, sin found room to grow.
What ultimately struck me most is that this isn't just David's story... it's ours. Every single one of us has areas where our flesh wants to take the lead. Every single one of us has giants to face and temptations to resist. The lesson isn't that we need to strive harder or become perfect. The lesson is that we never outgrow our need for God. We never reach a place where yesterday's faithfulness can sustain today's walk. David's life reminds us that our greatest victories are not found in defeating giants, but in continuously remaining close to the Lord long after the battle is over. And perhaps that's the lesson I hope Roman carries with him, not just that God can give him courage to face giants, but that a life spent continually pursuing God's heart is the greatest victory of all.
I hope this encourages you, friend. You’re doing amazing, and God loves you so much! Don’t forget to love on Him back today.