Beyond Common Sense

We read the story. We know the characters: David and Goliath. We study the passage and look beyond the obvious. We understand the valuable lessons taught by this amazing event. But then what? How do we go from reading it to applying it.

I recently told my English classes that my favorite word is “application” and am constantly trying to push them beyond just reading a great story to applying it! After all, isn’t that why we read, or do we read just for entertainment? I don’t know about you but whether I’m writing a good Christian historical fiction, or reading a good book, or reading the Bible, I’m looking for something to change my life and make me more like Jesus!

So, what about David and Goliath? What do I know?

1. David was young and certainly small in stature when compared to Goliath.
2. He was inexperienced.
3. He was the youngest of his family (I can relate! We “babies of the family” are a special lot with our own special strengths and weaknesses. Admit it you “oldest of the family”!!)
4. Ah, but his faith trumps EVERY obstacle!!! He was a child of THE KING! He knew God’s promises and believed them.
5. He did NOT…
   1. Limit those promises to the small issues, like leading him when he sought good pasture for the sheep although he would recognize God for that.
   1. Limit those promises to his inner struggles. He never once showed any fear in facing Goliath! Wow!
   1. Depend on his youth, his talent with a sling, Saul’s armor.

So, how do I compute that into my life? Well, first I need to recognize Goliath. What am I facing that seems impossible?

This may sound like whining, but hear me out:

My authoring career:

1. I’m a nobody.
   1. I have no connections—I feel like NO ONE is in my corner helping or directing me.
   1. I have no money!
   1. I’m old!
   1. I don’t have enough time.
   1. I have no direction. Well, I have little directions like taking “Spirit Rock” to the local museum. That was really cool.

Oh dear! I think I’ve found my Goliath! It’s ME! And here’s my struggle. Maybe you can relate. I truly believe that God wants me to go forward with my books, and I do have a plan. Right now, my plan is to work locally—try to build my “platform” and get out there in my community to raise awareness that I’m here! And here’s my Goliath—I HATE doing that! I LOVE talking to people, but it is hard for me to push open the door!

What is the answer? It’s the same answer that David had in his heart: trust God to do it and MOVE on it! Believe me, it seems just as impossible as facing a giant, spear-carrying, expert warrior with nothing but a few stones and a piece of leather! But God! But God can…

1. Use a nobody!
2. Make the connections I need in HIS time and place.
3. Slay a few of those “cattle on a thousand hills!”
4. Give me enough strength and years to accomplish HIS will!
5. Help me to organize my time better!
6. Show me the way and lead me!

Oh wow!! Did that help! Are you facing something impossible? Sometimes our statements or even the thoughts we speak to ourselves sound trite and wimpy, like Romans 8:28 and “let go and let God.” That’s because we forgot something: the power of God. Whether it’s an amazing Bible character or a modern-day hero, we sometimes sit back and say, “That’s great for them but…” and we make all kinds of excuses for NOT trusting God.

It may be hard and even seem impossible in our instant-fastpaced- “microwave” society, but remember this:

 

God is never early. He is never late. God is always right on time.

Will you be there busily working His will when He is ready to part the seas?