Ordinary people, extraordinary God – Facing the giants of 2026
1 Samuel 17:17-47
None of us can know what we will face in 2026. We can guarantee that we will not have a trouble free year. We live in the real world and we will face issues in our lives. In 1 Samuel 17 Israel was facing a giant problem. They were demoralised and facing defeat.
- Be full of faith and confidence in God – Saul had lost his faith and confidence. It had been eaten away by sin and disobedience. The King’s loss of confidence had effected the whole nation. It is vital that our faith and confidence is in God. David was only the errand boy, but he was full of faith and confidence in God. He had experienced victory through faith in God. We need to be like David and not Saul in 2026. Be aware though that some may not Like our confidence and faith in the Lord. We need to listen to what the Lord thinks of us and not the voices around us.
- Don’t let anyone squeeze you into their mould – Saul’s armour was not David’s armour. David only needed his faith and confidence in the Lord and the weapons he was familiar with. David went prepared, but he only needed one stone. What God is doing in our lives is far greater than anything we will face in 2026 (Isaiah 54:17; Romans 8:1). We need to look back at what God has already done in our lives and have faith that he can do it again. David knew that God had delivered him from the lion and the bear.
- The battle belongs to the Lord – Goliath did not stand a chance. David came against him in the name of the Lord God Almighty. He was not fighting David, but the Lord. Goliath had to fall because he was facing the Lord. Do not fight the battle in your own strength.
- God is the God of victory – David knew that only God could give him the victory.
- The glory is the Lord’s – because of the story of David and Goliath we know that 3,000 years ago there was a God in Israel.