"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, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by the sword or the spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands." 1 Samuel 17:45-47
Whoa! Seriously? Where did this young man come up with this other-worldly confidence? You could easily answer: God.
Of course. But I also believe that this instance was more than just a random breeze of God blown David's way. No, God had been with him, for a while now. God had been preparing him for this moment. David had developed a deep friendship with the living God in the fields where he kept his father's sheep. He had spent many hours alone, in the fields, caring for the ones God gave him. Not only had David become a skilled shepherd, fighting off lions and bears, but he had also become a skilled worshipper of God. Apparently he was so skilled with a harp, that Saul used his gifting to ward off the darkness that came upon him. He hadn't wasted his time in the fields despising it, but rather saw it as a season to go deep in God.
David knew God's heart. David knew God's heart for Israel. So, David knew God's will. He had Godly confidence that God would answer and give him divine favor, not due to his own greatness, but because God had a purpose to fulfill for Israel.
So many times in our faith walk, we are unsure of God's will. And its good to admit that. But, I believe we can actually ask God, spend time with God and in many instances we can know His will because He is our friend. He wants us to filled with confidence like David was. He wants us to go forward, strengthened with " all boldness" that only comes from His Spirit and spending time with Him. God wants us to discern His will.
Paul even prayed in Philippians 1:9-10 "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
And Romans 12:2 says:
"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
When we know God and know His will, we can pray from a place of confidence.
And we know that when we pray according to His will, He hears us and we get what we ask for. (paraphrase, 1 John 5:14-15)
But this can take time. It takes time cultivating a relationship with the Living God. It takes worshipping Him. It takes consulting Him in difficult situations. It takes reading and praying His Word. It takes relishing in, and not despising the hidden seasons.
So take delight in the season you are in with God, even if its in a lonely, seemingly desolate place. Maybe you are mom pouring into your kids, spending countless hours washing dishes and wiping bottoms (like me)? Or perhaps you want more out of life but feel stuck in the 9-5? Or maybe you just started a relationship with God and feel like you are just at the beginning? Relish in this hidden season. Embrace it. Don't wish it away. You might even start to enjoy it because you are enjoying HIM. There is a depth God wants to bring, even here. Learn to worship Him when its difficult as well as when its hard. Get to know Him. Develop trust in Him. Go deep in God. And when your day comes to meet the "giants" of this life, you will be ready and overcome, just as David did.
Well written: encouraging and challenaging all at the same time.
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