The Lord's Battle

1 Samuel 17:45-46a – David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me." (NIV)

Last fall, an MRI confirmed that my husband had a malignant growth on his kidney. The medical jargon on the lab report made my stomach turn into knots. The words, at the time, sounded like a horrific prophecy — like evil was about to take power and seize control of my life. Although I tried to be strong on the outside, inside I felt shock, fear, and intimidation. I suspected that we might be in for a long, difficult battle ahead.

Subsequently, I thought about the Old Testament example of David who courageously faced the giant Goliath because he was confident that God would give him the victory. However, years before confronting Goliath, David frequently defended his flock from wild animals. So he learned early on that God was faithful to deliver him; as a result, David had no fear of the Philistine. He had already experienced God's awesome power in his life; therefore, David had the ability to see Goliath from the Lord's perspective. Who is Goliath compared to Almighty God?

With every new challenge we face, God never fails to provide my family with an extra measure of grace to bring us through each day; therefore, the battle belongs to the Lord. He has also blessed us through the constant prayers and support of others. Besides that, it is no accident that I stumbled across Stronghold Ministry, founded by Joe Fornear. His amazing testimony and outreach ministry is an ongoing source of encouragement to us. Furthermore, the Lord led me to another wonderful resource, called Isaiah 42:16 Ministry, based on that particular verse of Scripture. Lori Hearn, the wife of a cancer survivor, shares her inspiring story in her book, An Unfamiliar Path. That, too, has been a blessing. Now, whenever I look at cancer under the microscope of God's powerful Word, it does not look so scary after all.

Thus, when we are faced with circumstances beyond our control, it is wise to remember David's strategy for success: First, he was encouraged by what God had done for him in the past. Secondly, he was able to see the enemy from the Lord's perspective. Additionally, as Christians, perhaps the best course of action is to share our burdens with the body of Christ, who in turn, can hold us up through prayer. Finally, let us realize that God may use impossible situations to teach us total dependence upon Him. At the same time, we can receive some of the greatest blessings that we may have otherwise never known.

Prayer: Almighty God, help us to see the enemy's weakness in the light of Your brilliant glory and amazing grace. Like Your servant David, grant us the courage and strength to face every battle with faith, believing that You will provide the final victory through Jesus Christ our Lord, in Whose precious name we pray. Amen.

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