When Goliath Comes

One does not have to live long to realize that along the pilgrim's path are many battles to be fought and enemies to be overcome and we should not be surprised when new trials come our way. It does not matter how victorious we may have been in one battle, we cannot get too comfortable because there will be other combats with other giants.

These other giants may not be as big and colossal as Goliath, but they must be dealt with just the same. Sometimes Goliath comes in the form of circumstances; sometimes he comes in the form of aggravating people; sometimes this giant comes in the form of overwhelming grief and despair. But perhaps the greatest and most lethal giants we have to confront and keep under management come from within ourselves.

We may have triumphed over outward circumstances, but the strain of the battle has left the spirit embittered and broken, the zest for living gone from the heart. Perhaps you have been left with the discouraging thought that Goliath rules and it is time to wave the white banner of surrender. For Christians, this is not an option. We must fight. We will fight. We will fight the good fight of faith. We will not go gentle into the grave of resignation and capitulation that Goliath has dug for us. Through the power of our omnipotent Lord, we will keep on fighting until the victory is won.

I read a blog posted by Maja which was written November 11, 2004. It is titled: The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall and describes the fall of Arafat. It brought to mind that the same is true of all believers trusting in God. We know that in Him, it is only a matter of time before Goliath will fall into the abyss of what was. Isn't it good news to know that the giants may keep coming but with Jesus on our side, the bigger they are, the harder they fall? Go to God in prayer and then, LET THE GIANTS COME!

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: A Grief Healing Workbook, will be available soon.