Have you ever seen a little boy or girl dressed as their favorite superhero? There is something about wearing a cape that makes them feel so powerful! They jump around swinging swords and saying things like, “To the rescue” or “Up, up, up and away!” While they are wearing the costume, they feel like they can do anything and beat anyone.
Whenever I see a little kid pretending to be fearless and brave, I think of the story of David and Goliath. I have never heard of anyone braver than David, and he was not pretending!
David was a young boy—the baby in his family. David’s people, the Israelites, were being tortured and bullied by the Philistines. Every day a giant bully named Goliath would come close to where David lived and ask someone to come and fight him. Of course no one ever wanted to fight him because of how big and scary he was!
David decided he wanted to fight, and he volunteered to go. Everyone thought David was crazy because he decided not to take any of the weapons people thought he would need to win. But do you know what? David was brave because he knew he had special powers. Not from wearing a cape or carrying a sword, but from God! David said in 1 Samuel 17:47, “All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
And guess what? David was right! With just a few rocks that God told him to take, David beat the big giant! David was not brave because he worked so hard or because he was so strong. David was brave because he trusted in God.
Are you facing something you need to be brave for? It may be a person, a test, or just a hard situation. Be like David. Ask God what He wants you to do. God gave David just what he needed to beat a giant, and He will do the same thing for you. So remember that you don’t need a cape or special powers to feel brave. You have God!
Dear God, sometimes I’m afraid to face what is ahead. Please help me face whatever comes my way. I know You have given me power to face any giant as long as I depend on You. In Jesus’s name, amen.