There seem to be a couple of recurring themes in my life right now. One is the story of David and Goliath found in 1 Samuel 17. The other one has to do with pride and how deeply it affects every single aspect of our lives. So much so, that I’m not even sure we realize just how prideful we’ve become. Personally, this pride thing is the absolute worst! Just when I think I have a handle on, God shows me that I’m actually not even close. 

I’ve been reading the book of Esther as part of a Bible study. Veggie Tales has possibly colored my understanding of this story, since everytime I read it I picture green veggies playing all the parts.  Anyway, this time Haman has caught my attention like never before. He was a self-consumed and extremely prideful man. Haman thought he had earned or deserved the respect and admiration of everyone else. He thought of himself as the King’s second in command, his go to guy. He lived large and in charge, seemingly getting whatever he wanted  in pretty much every way except one. Enter Mordecai. A jewish man, uncle to Queen Esther, wasn’t having it and refused to bow to Haman. Now this is the part that gets me! Haman was so ticked over one man who wouldn’t bow down, that he actually asked the King to completely destroy an entire people group! I mean how full of yourself do you have to be to even think those thoughts, let alone act on them? 

It’s ironic fascinating really that God somehow connected the story of Esther to that of David and Goliath. But He did, showing me how a man full of pride was also at play in 1 Samuel 17. Goliath, much like Haman, is a powerful and prideful man. Taunting his enemies on a daily basis. Having no regard at all for God or his people. When David steps up to face him, Goliath mocks and makes fun of not only David but the entire Isrealite army. Basically saying “You’ve got to be kidding me, is this all you’ve got? A tiny boy man. Really, look at me I’m a giant, do you really think he even stands a chance?” Goliath actually believed he couldn’t be defeated. 

In case you don’t know how both of these stories end – two prideful men (Haman & Goliath) end up losing their own lives. Both believed that they would be the ones delivering the death blow, not recieving one. My guess is neither of them even saw it coming because they were so blinded by their pride.  To be clear there is only one hero in both of these stories. While both David and Esther acted courageously, taking a bold step of faith,  it was God at work behind the scenes that secured the victory for both Esther and David. God is the true and only Hero! God routinely uses the unlikely, the small, the undervalued, the seemingly insignificant to do great and mighty things. Which makes me wonder why the heck I am so doubtful?! Why do we think we are better or more equipped to stand up to our giants than God is? I mean seriously how full of pride do we have to be to not even ask God for help? 

We all have giants or seemingly powerful people in our lives trying to hold us down, convince us that we don’t stand a chance. But here is the thing regardless of the battle you are facing- God is for you! If you’ve surrendered your life to Him and are following His call on your life, then God will make a way for you! Your job is to trust and obey. If you’ve not yet surrendered your life to God, then perhaps the giant you are facing is what God will use to bring you to the point of surrender. Regardless – God is for you! If you are reading this, you are a child of God. And there is literally nothing He won’t do to bring you into the family! 

We have to ask ourselves -”Who am I listening to?” Personally, for far too long I’ve been listening to the giant that wants to keep me right where I am. Comfortable and for the most part content. The problem is that I know this is not what or where I have been called. Change is hard, stepping out in faith is hard, uncomfortable situations are hard, but there is not one hard thing that Jesus cannot overcome! I can make excuses with the best, I can procrastinate and put off with ease, I can ignore, avoid and turn the other way but in doing so I will continue to feel unsettled, on edge and stuck. Today, following God and stepping into the hard seems like where I’d rather be. 

I was talking to my high school students last night about how sin gets us off track and how that is exactly where our enemy wants to keep us. Feeling shame, regret, guilt and like we are too far gone to be worth God’s time and attention. That is 100% a lie! God forgives all sin, no matter how big it seems to us. God is bigger and Jesus died for ALL our sins. We talked about how we were knit together in our mother’s womb and how we have been called and chosen by God. And the fact that if God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31-35)? Funny how, not much changes as we age. Our giants may look different, but the enemy remains the same. Defeated and desperate, trying to drag us down with him. Joshua says in Joshua 24:15 “choose for yourself this day, who you will serve. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” That challenge also remains the same for us today. Who will you serve today? Who will you listen to today? Will you step out in faith towards that giant, knowing God is for you or will you live in defeat and regret?