If you haven’t read the full story of David and Goliath in awhile click here.  You may also want to check out David & Goliath Part 1: Motives of the Heart.

Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of (Goliath); your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”

Moreover David said, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!” ~ 1 Samuel 17:31-37

What made David qualified to take on Goliath? In my opinion, his day job. Okay, ultimately it was the LORD who qualified David, but how?

God prepared David for his battle with Goliath long before David had ever even heard of Goliath. David was a shepherd, shepherding was his day job and God prepared this shepherd to face the giant by bringing him lions and bears. Lions and tigers and bears! Oh my! Can you imagine!?!

David was just a kid and he had this amazing task of protecting the family’s folk, their livelyhood, from predators. Do you think he did this on his power alone? No, he didn’t. David was familar with his God – the living God.  And through the struggles in his day job, he became more familiar with the living God. His faith in God grew and he knew that through Him no obstucle was to great. So when it came time to face Goliath he was prepared.

So I wonder, what are the lions and bears in your day job? Are you relying on your own power to overcome them?  Or are you relying on God? When we rely on God to bring us past our lions and bears we become more familiar with Him just as David did. Our faith grows and when it is time face a giant we are qualified to take that giant on. We’re not qualified because of our own power or smarts, but because we have a God in our corner who has been preparing us for this moment. We are qualified through our faith in Him.

Oh, God, You are most awesome! Thank You for preparing us for life’s giants. Thank You for not leaving us to our own devices but being with us day and night. Thank You for always being in our corner. Thank You for growing our faith and preparing us to do Your work – which ultimately is to bring You glory! Amen.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. ~ Jeremiah 29:11

I hope my thoughts help you understand how this scripture can be applied to our modern lives, but don’t just take my word for it.  Dive into The Bible yourself, pray, and ask the Lord to reveal His truth to you.

Have a question or a thought?  Please feel free to leave a comment.