God of Small and Big Battles
by Yulia Kariuki
Most of us are familiar with the story of David and Goliath. We know that David, being a shepherd, didn’t have any proper training to face Goliath for that battle. In this story we read how David was willing to go and fight the Philistine, and at the same time we see how King Saul doubts David’s ability to do so. I find their conversation, where David gives Saul all his reasons for facing Goliath, fascinating (1 Samuel 17:32-37).
When I read this story recently, there was something new which caught my attention. David was talking about his experience with the Lord, in his own battles of life, where he’d faced a lion and a bear, and managed to kill them. David had experience the Lord in his ‘small’ battles, and he knew God’s ability to use him. But, more than that, he knew who God was, the strong and mighty God. Verse 37 spoke to me about the importance of having our own life experience with the Lord, where we have to fight ‘lions’ and ‘bears’. Through that, we’ll get to know the Lord better. We’ll get to know His character and His ability to do great things. So when the time comes for us, like David, to face a big challenge in life, we’ll know where our strength comes from. David looked back on his life. He remembered how the Lord delivered him in different life situations, and proved Himself faithful. I believe those experiences gave David confidence and courage to fight Goliath.
Today, I want to encourage you, no matter how big ‘Goliath’ looks in your life, to look back on the goodness of the Lord. Remember what He’s done in your life, and how He helped you go through difficulties. This will give you courage to face what you need to, no matter how big it might be. The Lord who delivered David out of the hand of the Philistines, years ago, is the same God who’ll deliver you today in your battle.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your faithfulness in my life over the years, and the way I saw You fighting for me, fighting my battles. I pray that You’d strengthen me today to trust You in my circumstances, no matter how big and difficult they might look, in Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
Yulia Kariuki was born in Russia and studied translation and interpretation as her profession. She joined Ellel Ministries in 2009, after graduating from university. The same year she met her husband and Bernard and Yulia served on team for many years both in Scotland and at Ellel Grange.
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