Don't worry about this Philistine," David told Saul. "I'll go fight him!" 1 Samuel 17:32
As we think about positivity, I realize that those who are extraordinarily positive are the people who trust in God to take care of them in all situations. How can anyone have a negative attitude when they believe that God will provide for them in any situation? How can someone maintain a positive attitude if they doubt God's willingness and ability to provide for them? This is crucial for anyone to maintain a positive attitude. David understood this, which is why he was able to look his giants in the eye and face them.
Imagine this scene. All the Israelites are camped just opposite of the Philistines, and they are in a standoff. No one wants to move into battle. Heckled by the giant Goliath from the Philistines, the Israelites were locked up and consumed with fear. You would expect rescue to come from King Saul, who was stronger and taller than all of the others, but he was also terrified. That was the scene when David stepped forward to volunteer. As he heard these taunts and threats, David did not cower in fear. Instead, he questioned them for their evil against God's chosen people, Israel. Instead of becoming overwhelmed with negativity and fear, he was positive that God would defeat Israel's giants.
Assessing the situation in front of them, David, a shepherd, said to the king of Israel, "Don't worry about this Philistine… I'll go fight him!" (verse 32). Saul begged him to go back home and forget about the Philistines, but David persisted. Finally, Saul agreed to let David challenge Goliath to a battle. He gave David his own helmet, sword, and armor, but David did not need them. In fact, most of the armor given to him didn't even fit. "I can't go in these," David said. He insisted that all he needed was his staff, sling, and five smooth stones. You see, David was confident that God was with him, and he trusted God's protection.
I want to be like David. I want to have the positivity and optimism to trust God to provide in any and every situation. I have a feeling that you do, too. However, I know I have a lot of work to do. Maybe you can relate. It is time for us to let go of negativity when giants oppose us. It is time that we trust God, our provider and protector, with our very lives.
What giant are you facing today? What is it that is keeping you from having a positive attitude? It is time to give that to God. It is time to trust Him to care for you in all situations. Write 1 Samuel 17:32 on an index card. Then, below the verse, write down the giant that you are facing right now. Ask the Lord to help you as you seek to trust Him to face your giants.
Read 1 Samuel 17:32-40 (NLT)
“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”
But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”
Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.
“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
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