5 Smooth Stones: Facing Your Giants With Biblical Truths

In 1 Samuel 17, there’s a well-known story about David and Goliath. If you’re unfamiliar with the tale, Goliath was a giant who was described to be “six cubits and a span” (1 Samuel 17:4).

In modern-day language, that means Goliath was roughly 9 feet and 9 inches tall. He regularly taunted the Israelites to the point that the whole nation quaked in fear of him and his army.

When David overhears the threats, he’s enraged. He demands,

King Saul hears of David’s bravery. But he’s more amused than impressed when David confidently tells him,

Still, David is allowed to face off with the giant. What weapon does the young teenager select for this gladiator-style showdown? He chooses a sling and five smooth stones from the nearby brook.

To grasp the magnitude of his choice, imagine a four-year-old confronting an NFL linebacker with a slingshot and some rocks. It sounds laughable and more than a little impossible.

But David is undaunted. He stands confidently in front of a man easily twice his size and proudly proclaims, 

As David predicted, God delivers the giant into the hands of a teenager, and the Philistine army flees. The battle is won because of the faith of one small shepherd boy who dared to defy a giant.

Unfortunately, giants enter into the life of every Christian. They may not be literal giants standing in front of your eyes. But you recognize their taunts. You’ve heard their threats. Your knees knock, and you’re searching desperately for a faith that proclaims, “The battle is the Lord’s.”

These giants are universal and appear to almost everyone at some point. Here’s who they are and what to remember in the middle of the battle…

The Giant of Abandonment

Peter had always considered himself a strong Christian. He’d watched God provide for him when he’d lost his job when his kids were small. He’d seen God protect his wife in the middle of a horrific car accident.

He was active in his community and a faithful witness for Christ. He loved helping out in the men’s ministry at his church. On top of that, he loved his wife and was close to his children.

When he noticed the bruises down his fifth-grade son’s legs, he asked about them.  His son explained that he’d fall down the steps at school. Peter thought that was odd and began noticing things that troubled him. His son tired quickly. He lost his balance frequently. He started complaining of headaches.

Peter took his son to the doctor, and after two weeks of testing, he heard the news every parent dreads. His son was seriously ill and wasn’t likely to live to see his high school graduation.

Suddenly, Peter’s faith was shaken. The God he’d always believed in and trusted seemed a million miles away. When he cried out, there was only silence in the stillness.

It’s easy to believe that God is with you in the good moments when the skies are sunny, and your marriage is going well. When your kids are healthy, and there’s enough money in the bank to meet your bills.

But when everything goes sideways, when you’re thrust into a sudden crisis, it’s normal to question where God is. You might be tempted to believe this makes you a bad Christian or that your faith is shaky.

But the first thing a young child left in the dark does is call out for his or her father. It’s a reaction born of reliance. A child that calls for his or her parent does so because they’ve known the comfort of His presence at one point.

Just as David reached for five smooth stones, you can reach for a weapon, too. Reach for Scripture that reminds you of God’s closeness with verses such as…

The Giant of Fear

Danielle was employed by an advertising agency. The job allowed her to support her disabled husband and afford the medical care he needed. But with the loss of her job came the loss of her health coverage, too.

Suddenly, Danielle was looking at spending thousands of dollars each month to keep her husband alive. Sometimes, she’d wake in the middle of the night in a near panic attack because she had no idea how she was going to provide for the man she loved.

The giant of fear likes to torment you with questions about things that haven’t happened yet. You can usually recognize him because most of his taunts start with the phrase, “What if…?”

For example, Danielle often heard these taunts, “What if you can’t afford your husband’s medication next month? What if your savings run out before you can find another job? What if that interview tomorrow doesn’t go well?”

In these moments, it’s natural to want to run and hide. But instead of hiding out, reach out to your Heavenly Father, and He'll help you fight your giant. Rely on His promises from Scripture…

The Giant of Despair

The giant of despair wants you to give up all hope. He wants you to abandon the idea that God is at work in the middle of your messy life. In those moments, cling tightly to these verses…

The Giant of Guilt

Jane had been going through a rough patch in her marriage when she reconnected with her old high school boyfriend online. Their messages quickly turned flirty, and it wasn’t long until Jane agreed to meet up with him in person.

The date was the beginning of an affair that would last for three months. When she finally broke it off, Jane immediately came clean to her husband and begged his forgiveness.

During the next year, Jane and her husband went to couple’s counseling with a trusted Christian therapist. They rebuilt their marriage, and it was stronger than ever.

But Jane still suffered from feeling unworthy. She constantly berated herself for nearly throwing her family away, and she always felt the need to “make up for” what she’d done in the past.

Listening to the giant of guilt can make you feel as if you must earn forgiveness from God or those you’ve wronged. You carry your sins and failures with you, dragging them into each new day. But take courage and remember these verses from Scripture…

The Giant of Lack

Abby was a widow raising her three small children on her own. She had no family living nearby to help her, and she worked two jobs to support herself and her kids. She often juggled bills to keep the lights on and food on the table.

Then came the house fire that destroyed her family’s home. Worse still, the bill for her home insurance had lapsed, so Abby wasn’t covered. Now, she and her three children were facing homelessness.

A woman who worked with Abby heard the news about the fire and opened her home to the destitute family.

The giant of lack often points out all the unmet needs around you. He wants you so focused on your needs that you never think to look to the Need Provider. But the right Scriptures can help you refocus and see the One who delights in providing for you and your loved ones. He's the One who will help you fight this giant.

A Battle Plan for Facing Your Giants

Understanding this means that you know without a doubt that you cannot win the battle on your own. You can only achieve victory through the power of the living God.

Once you have grasped this, cry out to God. Ask Him for victory. Tell Him you are powerless and ask Him to move out against your giants. The Psalmist declares,

In Psalm 62, David instructs the people to pour out their hearts to God.

When we’re honest with God about what we’re dealing with, it’s a sign not of weakness but of trust. Just as a child bringing a request to their parent is a sign of trust, it’s the same concept with God. When you cry out to Him, you are showing Him you trust Him to meet your need.

After acknowledging that the battle is the Lord’s and crying out to Him, don’t stop there. Take time to recount his previous victories.

When King Saul questioned David, he recounted previous moments of God’s faithfulness in his life.

Look at previous battles in your life. Maybe God helped you give up an addiction or sinful pattern. Perhaps God comforted you in the middle of your grief. Maybe God provided for your family during a difficult time.

Now lift up your voice and praise Him. Praise God for the victories He has already won. Praise God for the victories still to come! Praise God because He is working in the middle of this battle, and He’s working it out for His glory, and you’re good!

Grace and peace,

Alicia