“The hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen.” Andrew Bernstein
Do you believe it is possible to live a life of victory? Life will present you with difficult challenges that will make you believe victory isn’t possible. One of my favorite stories of victory over a seemingly undefeatable challenge was when David confronted the giant, Goliath.
Goliath’s challenge
Goliath spent forty days calling out the Army of Israel. He spent forty days telling King Saul and his army that they did not stand a chance against him. He had them so overwhelmed with fear that whenever he would come out to challenge them, they would run and hide.
Goliath’s challenge was so intense that King Saul, the one person who was able to stand against him hid in fear. Every morning and every evening for forty days Goliath came forward to challenge the Army of Israel. For forty days, they lived in fear of this intimidating giant. For forty days, Goliath flaunted his size and strength daring Saul to send someone to fight him.
Giants will come
Your giants will come at you morning, noon and evening, day after day, relentlessly trying to derail you. Their intentions are to steal, kill and literally destroy your vision.
Your giants will dissuade you with negative and contrary words. They will tell you to run from your responsibilities, you are not worthy to live a blessed life, you cannot achieve great things or you are condemned because of your past.
David discerned within his heart that victory was possible. He knew God would give him victory if he totally trusted in Him. So on day forty-one David did what no one else would do, he confronted Goliath.
On day forty-one, he stood against a seemingly undefeatable giant and took him out. David did not allow the naysayers, doubters and negativity stop him from achieving what he perceived was possible.
Please know your giants want to intimidate you to the point of surrender. They want you to doubt God’s vision for your life. They want you to give up on your future because of what happened yesterday. They want you to believe that God has forgotten you in the midst of your troubles. I want to encourage you to keep holding on to your vision because your day forty-one is coming.
Overcoming your giants
God will sometimes allow you to go through some intense pressure situations. He will use these intense times of pressure for you to realize what you are truly made of. Have you ever been under so much pressure that it seemed impossible to come out? Have you ever been so far in that you thought you would never get out?
Without some intense pressures in your life, you cannot become all God destined you to be. He allows these pressure situations in your life for you to see His strength and your weakness, His wisdom and your foolishness, His ability and your inability and His infiniteness and your finiteness.
Do not run from your challenges. God knows what you are dealing with. He knows that your marriage is struggling; your finances are no longer funny, but hilarious. He knows your health is declining, your children are out of control and your job is uncertain. He knows all of your challenges.
Can I tell you what else He knows? He knows who He created you to be. He created you to be a person of purpose. He created you to live a life of victory. He created you to fulfill His vision.
Please take notice, the Word of God says victory is through your relationship with Jesus. Not your relationship with your family and friends. Not the strength of your bank account and retirement portfolio. Not the power of the positions and titles you hold. Not the amount of degrees and work experience you have accumulated. You gain ultimate victory in living your vision when you overcome your challenges in His strength.
Question: What area(s) in your life do you need victory? Leave a comment
Image courtesy: freedigitalphotos.net
Dan Black says
I think the main reason we go through trials and testing is so our character and trust in God has a chance to grow. I know as I draw closer to God, every area not inline with God’s word will begin to fall off. The key is to submit to God and allow Him to change us. Great post.
Bernard Haynes says
Thanks for the comment Dan. Your are correct. In my most difficult trials I have seen my character and trust in God grow significantly.
Barb Raveling says
My giants come by regularly. 🙂 With all the normal lies of “I can’t do this” and that sort of thing, but also with the temptation to make my goal my idol. It’s such a fine line to walk in pursuing goals, isn’t it? Right now my bigger temptation is to make success an idol. Thank you for the encouragement to fight those giants!
Bernard Haynes says
We get into serious trouble when we make the goal our idol. It is important to stay focused on God and we will not lose sight of the goals He wants us to accomplish.
TCAvey says
What an encouraging post! Thank you. I hadn’t even realized I needed this type of encouragement today, but God did. Thanks so much.
Bernard Haynes says
TC, I am glad the post encouraged you. Be blessed.
Caz says
Thank you so much this was such a needed reminder. You are a gifted and powerful writer
Bernard Haynes says
Thanks, Caz for the encouraging comment.
Floyd says
Awesome post, Bernard. No one or nothing in this world can stand against the hand of God that spoke the sun into existence and supplies the power for the perpetual motion to sustain life. And it is about Him, His mercy, His grace, His will in our lives… Home run, my friend. As usual, I’m always left inspired and encouraged when I read your words.
Bernard Haynes says
Thanks Floyd. When we walk in the vision the Creator of the Universe designed for us then it is possible for us to do great things for His Kingdom.
Lincoln Parks says
My giants are always around me, I actually carry them in the palms of my hand. My limitations have been around when my palms are so sweaty that I allow myself to be derailed by them. Thanks for sharing the actions steps to get rid of them.
Dave Arnold says
This is so good, Bernard, and I needed to read it today. Love this quote: Giants are relentlessly trying to derail you… so true. For me, a major giant is a fear of failure – of blowing it. But through Christ, I overcome. Thanks! I wrote a post similar to this on how we grow thru pain and struggle… I guess God’s trying to speak to me 🙂