Dealing with our Challenges

I am sure that each of us realize that we are human beings and that we will face our own set of unique challenges as we progress through life.  It appears that death is the only way not to face those events of life that will challenge the strength and commitment of our faith.  I for one can testify that I have seen these events happen in my personal life as well as the lives of my family members.  There have been days in which I was proud of the way that I responded to those events and there have been days that I was embarrassed by my response.  Each of you can take the time to review some of your own struggles and measure the type of response that you offered at those unique moments.

The Discipleship class last night studied a story that has become somehwat a classic among Christians.  It is the story of David and Golaith.  Many of you know the story well and I will not take the time to review all of the elements and actions of this powerful narrative in the Bible.  Last night I chose to focus on the conversation of David when he first arrived at the battlefield.  Goliath had been challenging the armies of Israel for forty (40) days and David arrives with supplies from home and to check on the status of his brothers.  It did not take David very long before his discussion turned to God and to the defiance of Goliath toward God.  The challenges of life will cause us to learn our need to quickly turn our discussion to God and not allow the threats of the enemy to consume us.  It is so easy to become consumed or even overwhelmed by the threats of the enemy that the threats of the enemy blind us to the promises of God.  We can focus so much on the threats of the enemy that we forget that the battle is not ours but the battle is God's.  As I read the passage of scripture in 1 Samuel 17 the Spirit began to remind me that God was using David to bring the army's attention back to Him and away from the swagger, conversation, and threats of the enemy.  The living and pracrtical faith of David would cause him to confront the challenges of the enemy and remind Goliath that he is not just fighting him but he is fighting God.  God would defeat and overthrow the enemy called Golaith and God will defeat and overthrow the enemies that we are facing today.  We must commit to discussing and focusing on the promises and power of God even as we face those daunting moments of life.

Charles Stanley shares some insight about this passage: "When we are facing a difficult decision, the real key is learning to wait. There is no verse of Scripture that tells us to take control and fight our own battles. God is the one who fights them on our behalf (2 Chron. 20:15). We are to be patient and trust in Him.

When David faced his greatest battles, he waited upon the Lord. God delivered him from destruction and set his feet on solid ground. (Ps. 40:1-3) He will do the same for you. When you abide in Him, He gives supernatural energy to accomplish the things He requires of you--His Spirit does for you what you cannot do for yourself.

In reading through the Scriptures, we see that every time one of God's saints gains a victory, he or she is waiting and trusting in the Lord. You can likewise experience triumph in your life. When you have the omnipotent Creator of the universe acting on your behalf, you can't lose."