AfterWords: Facing Giants

 

I Samuel 17:1-11; 32-50

We often associate the story of David & Goliath with children’s Sunday School or Vacation Bible School, but this is anything but a children’s story. The plot fills the stories of literature and film—the underdog overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. I see this story in every John Grisham novel and in so many films, including my favorite: Star Wars.

Today’s giants are not 9’ tall with 30-pound spears. Rather, they’re regular people with 3-pound laptops; they’re ideas and ideologies; they’re economics and politics. They are any of those “rulers…authorities…powers of this dark world and…spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). Like Goliath, the giants of our lives shout us down, curse us, and do all they can to instill fear in our lives. They threaten to break apart all we’ve made.

One giant threatens our relationships, our friendships, our families. When our family and friends walk in directions we think wrong, this giant raises his head to break us apart. Decisions, inaction, politics, spending—all of these are weapons of this giant. And, we need the right smooth stones to bring to these situations. One stone to combat this giant is silence. A shocking fact for many is this: We don’t have to respond to people; we don’t have to share our opinion. This important to remember, as is Paul’s admonition in his letter to the Romans: “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (12:18). A second stone we bring to this giant is “gentle speech.” We can respond without diving into a brawl.

The “3 Practice Circle” teaches us to approach divisive conversations with disarming words and a desire to listen. Rather than roar back with fighting words, we use this simple phrase: “I’d be curious to know….” No one is threatened by mere curiosity. “I’d be curious to know what led you to this idea.” Then, we listen. We allow the other person to explain. And, we don’t respond—we don’t fire back with all the flaws we see in their explanation. Instead, we say, “Thank you for explaining—I understand you better.” We’re not agreeing. We’re not saying they’re right. We are saying in effect, ‘I heard you.’ And that is something we all crave—to be heard.

Financial uncertainties give space for another giant to plan worry and fear in our lives. This giant sees the taxes, tariffs, and rising costs-of-living and yells, “You don’t have enough!” We respond to this giant with the stone of trust—the very trust in God that has brought us to this moment, to this day. God has brought us this far, and God will carry us forward. We also have the stone of frugality—if we choose to pick it up. We chose to live simply and live through difficult times. Paul in his letter to the Philippian church says, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (4:11-13)

We face so many different giants today: Threats and taunts from illness, relationships, job situations, and more. We face these giants by gathering the smooth stones we find in Scripture.  With these stones and with God by our sides, we too will fell the giants before us and live a life of victory. 

Sunday, August 17, 2025
“Facing Giants”
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