Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.” When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. 1 Samuel 17:45-49, ESV
I wonder what it was like for David to face a giant. From a worldly perspective, this situation looked impossible—a Philistine giant towered over every man in the Israelite army. He looked too big to fight. Everyone had given up. The situation felt unsolvable.
So I wonder what went through David’s mind as he stepped up to take on this challenge and looked up at this towering man. Did he immediately think of victory, or did he question his own ability? Was he afraid? Was he questioning God? I would assume that all of these were true. But somehow David trusted. He trusted God because of the things He had already taught him and walked through with him. And he trusted God because he knew His character.
And as he stepped up, others tried to equip him with their armor. But ultimately, David walked into the identity and the armor that God had given him. There were others just as equipped and much bigger than David. But he stepped out. He believed God was who He said, and even more, he knew who he was in God. He believed God could do mighty things because of who he knew God to be.
Friends and fellow educators, are you “facing giants” in your classroom and school that seem impossible to overcome? Do you face problems that seem unsolvable? Is fear holding you back from walking in your identity? Have you asked yourself where God is calling you and equipping you with His armor to step out in faith at your school?
God has created you for this time and purpose. He is bigger than the “giants” that you face.
Jesus, Help us to walk in You, hear Your words of truth, look past the world’s perspective, and step out into the things You have called us to do. Help us to remember Your faithfulness and walk in who You have created us to be. Amen.
Copyright Rebekah Hutchinson.
Rebekah is a member and a second-grade teacher in Vancouver, Washington.
One Response
I work in public education with students who are medically fragile, or emotionally compromised. I am often “beat up” by these students I try to serve. I lean heavily on the Lord. I need to rely on him for my PTSD when these episodes happen. I also have to rely on the Lord for financial needs in my classroom. I teach middle school. in middle school, they are expecting kids to be using mostly iPads or chrome books for curriculum. However, that is a difficult ask for my students. so I print out almost everything they do. I pay for my own ink, often my own card stock. I have been blest this year with 2 different grants that have helped me tremendously to deliver a good, tangible education to children, who, through no fault of their own, see the world through a very different lens. I know for a surety that I could not do my job, and truly love and embrace these students without the constant companionship of the Lord. I have to rely on him. So I do believe that he is who he says he is. the great I AM. Thank you for sharing this, Bekah. 🥰