Rising Above Life’s Trials Through Christ

Mar 6 – Mar 27

Learning to Slay Giants

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  03/25/21

When David was just a young man, he killed a giant named Goliath. People revel in victories like David’s. They like to know that it’s not always about who’s bigger, meaner, and better armed. That’s because we all face giants in our lives.

Read Psalm 8. These giants are usually not of the nine-and-a-half-foot variety. The giants I’m talking about are the giants of fear, anxiety, worry, discouragement, and despondency. Sometimes they take the form of addiction, restlessness, envy, bitterness, or anger. But whatever they may be, these giants have one purpose in mind: to render the children of the living God ineffective. So, the question is: How do we defeat these giants?

In our culture, we often try to understand ourselves and the problems we face without understanding God and His purpose for life. Many churches preach messages that encourage people to solve their problems on their own. They offer principles, methods, and formulas to fix the troubles their listeners encounter. But that’s the core of the problem. They leave God out, and He’s the only one who can solve our problems.

After his great triumph over Goliath and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David penned Psalm 8 as a song of victory. That song of victory begins with a recognition of the surpassing majesty of God: “LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (v. 1).

David knew who God is. That’s why he could stand with his sling and a few small stones and stare down a mountain of a man, saying, “I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty” (1 Samuel 17:45). David knew there is power in the name of the Lord. David’s story tells us that when we’re in trouble, we need to call on the name of the God of heaven and trust Him.

Jesus gave His life for us so that the biggest giants in our lives—sin and death—could be defeated once and for all. How much more can we trust Him to give us victory over Satan’s everyday attacks? Whatever your Goliath may be today, praise your God who is bigger, stronger, and wiser than any giant—and proclaim as David did, “Lord, how majestic is Your name!”

Prayer: Lord, thank You for securing my victory in Christ. Help me to live as Your champion with unshakable confidence in You that leads me to declare Your goodness to the world. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).