When I was leading a church plant in the early 1980’s (wow that was a long time ago!), we were meeting in a city recreation center. The city was hospitable and it was a good facility. However, two Sundays a year we were coopted by two previous tenants: a flower show, and a dog show.
This was the building and that’s the pastor (me) family (Carolyn & Gabriel).
I guess you could say our church location went to the dogs!
These two Sundays created a problem for our fledgling congregation—where do we go and how do we adapt? It was a giant-sized problem (or maybe a dog-sized problem, ha ha).
So we improvised. We met outside in an amphitheater one time (which definitely was not ideal), in the Boys & Girls Club building, and in another city-owned building once or twice.
Have you ever faced a giant-sized problem? I am sure you have. Problems are inevitable, but like David we can choose to stand up to them with courage.
Goliath said, “‘I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man that we may fight together.’When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” (1 Samuel 17:10-11)
Goliath was certainly a giant-sized problem. He towered over David at 9’9”. How would you like to face a guy like that who wanted to remove your head from its God-intended location?
Goliath was menacing, threatening and yelling curses at the army of Israel, blaspheming the name of God. David had a tender heart for the Lord and determined to defeat him.
David responded, “‘Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.’ And David said, ‘The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you!’” (1 Samuel 17:36-37)
We can learn from David how to slay our giant-sized problems in 3 steps:
1) Identify
Richard Sloma wisely said, “Never try to solve all your problems at once–make them line up for you one-by-one.”
Identify just one current problem that you are facing and write it down. It might be:
Financial stressIllness
Grief
Marital conflict
Other relational conflict
Business setbacks
Attack that one of your giant-sized problems first.
2) Divide
David encouraged himself by remembering his past accomplishments. He set aside his setbacks. As he remembered his successes in defeating lions and bears, he grew in confidence that he could overcome this giant also.
Likewise, we can divide our past victories from our failures and gain courage as we focus on victories.
We can remember failures and things we’ve heard like:
“You’ll never be a leader.”
“You are not very fast.”
“You don’t know how to work with people, numbers or books.”
“You will always be a loser.”
Or
We can remember successes and recite confidence builders such as:
“All things are possible for the one who believes.” Mark 9:23“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Think and write down five confidence builders or accomplishments you have experienced in overcoming major giant-sized problems.
3) Conquer
Read 1 Samuel 17 and you will see that people questioned David’s ability to defeat Goliath due to his lack of:
Age
Experience
Size
Weapons
Armor
What did David do? He challenged their assumptions that he was incapable and generated solutions.
“Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:40)
Goliath was a goner.
We must remind ourselves that God is not limited by our lack or by our weakness.
Think of and write down 3 to 5 solutions you may have never tried. Circle the one with the greatest potential and the lowest risk. Then begin to act on it.
You will begin to defeat your giant-sized (or dog-sized) problems!