9.4.23 - 1 Samuel 17:4-7
Sometimes we don't need to just power through. How can you embrace the idea that "there is always more than one way to slay a giant" to approach your challenges with greater confidence and curiosity?
The Philistine army's champion came out of their camp. His name was Goliath from Gath. He was ten feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he wore a bronze coat of armor scales weighing 125 pounds. On his legs he had bronze shin guards and on his back a bronze javelin. The shaft of his spear was like the beam used by weavers. The head of his spear was made of 15 pounds of iron.
In this passage, we have the Israelites who see Goliath and can only envision one path forward: somebody has to go toe-to-toe with Goliath. And if that's your only option, I don't blame them for shaking in their boots! David, however, looked at the problem a little differently.
The youngest son of Jesse, he grew up with older, stronger brothers. I imagine when he was challenged by those stronger than him, David learned to reach for something besides strength.
Strength, speed, laughter, compassion, cleverness... No matter how large the problem you probably have a tool to overcome it. You have a lifetime of experience overcoming obstacles in the unique way you were made to address them.
When the giant seems TOO big, maybe it just takes looking at it a different way because there is always more than one way to slay a giant.
Take a moment and jot down some of the tools you have other than brute force. How might you lean into these gifts today when a problem seems insurmountable?
--Katelin Champion