The Giants That Stand Between You and Great Faith
By Rick Warren
“Everyone assembled here will know that the Lordrescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”(1 Samuel 17:47 NLT).
Before David faced Goliath in 1 Samuel, he actually had to fight four other giants. They weren’t physical giants, but they were giants in his mind.
You are far more likely to have to face those giants than a Goliath, but they can be just as big and intimidating—and they can keep you from becoming who God wants you to be and fulfilling the dream that God has put in your heart.
The first giant in facing your dream is delay. No dream is fulfilled instantly. God gives you the dream on one day, but he doesn’t fulfill it the next day. It may be years before you see the fulfillment of your life dream. There is always a waiting period.
In David’s case, his dad held him back from the dream. After Samuel anointed David as king, Jesse told David to get back to tending the sheep!
When God’s plan contradicts somebody else’s plan, there’s going to be a delay, and people are going to try to hold you back—sometimes even the people who love you the most. But God is faithful, and he will complete his work in you in his time.
The second giant you may face is discouragement. Goliath created a climate of fear in Israel, and everybody was convinced they were going to lose the battle.
What people are you listening to that say it can’t be done? Who is putting down your dream, saying it won’t ever happen?
Sometimes you just need a fresh voice—a kid from the village with fresh eyes who says, “This guy’s nothing. We can take him down.”
The third giant standing in your way is disapproval. In David’s case, his own brother questioned his motives and disapproved of him going after Goliath.
When God gives you a dream that other people are afraid of and you go for it anyway, you will be misjudged, maligned, and misunderstood. You have to decide what matters more to you: the approval of other people or the approval of God.
The fourth giant you may have to face is doubt.
Nobody was a greater expert on war than King Saul, and he told David he was crazy for thinking a boy could fight a warrior like Goliath.
Maybe the expert is saying you can’t do it, either. That’s enough to make you start doubting yourself.
When I wrote The Purpose Driven Life, I got a letter from the editor (which I later framed) that said, “This book will never work. Nobody’s going to read 40 chapters.” The experts are often wrong.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
Transformed Study Kit
Experience a real transformation from the inside out!
Is there a positive change you want to see in your life in 2019? If so, we want to send you a study kit Pastor Rick Warren has put together called Transformed to help make it happen!
Pastor Rick teaches seven biblically based lessons in Transformed that will help you experience a real transformation from the inside out this year, as you learn from the Bible how to . . .
• Walk more closely with God
• Experience less stress in your life
• Reconcile a ruined relationship
• Handle your money better
• Become more confident at work
The Transformed study kit includes a 7-session DVD and a leather-bound workbook. And it’s our gift to thank you for your financial support of Daily Hope, so please request it when you give below.
Thank you for your generosity to help more people learn, love, and live God’s Word!
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.