What to Do When You Face the Impossible

Memorial Day brought back memories of heroes as with gratitude, we recalled their brave commitment to bring us victory. But why do we forget the victory Christ has already won for us?

Do you remember this story?

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Adversary also came among them. And the Lord said to the Adversary, “From where have you come?”

Then the Adversary answered the Lord, saying, “From roaming on the earth, and from walking up and down on it” (Job 1:6-7).

Did he say the earth? Gulp. Friend, you and I are on that same earth on which he roams. And we need to watch out because “the devil walks around as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

He’s probably licking his lips, staring at us.

And when we’re alone, seated on our bed of self-pity, surrounded by walls of gloom, lamenting our impossible situations, we become more appetizing. We’re more appealing because we’re weighed down by negativity. And we’re weakened by moments of hopelessness.

I’ve BeenThere

And unaware of what an inviting prey I was, I was soon to be his spiritual lunch.

The giant I faced towered over me, reminding me of my frailty, whispering I was defenseless.

That’s the place the enemy wants us, walking into defeat and deceived in thinking that victory will only come when the impossible problem would be removed.

But often that doesn’t happen. Not to us and not to David. Instead, like our struggles, the giant stood firm, relentless and threatening.

Poor David?

No. As a boy, he was scrawny, a bit of a shy kid, the youngest of his brothers and probably voted the “least likely to succeed” in the senior class of the local shepherd high school. Yet God was with him.

Success was at work. David stepped forward and the size of his opponent didn’t infuse fear, but injected boldness instead.

Unprepared to face giants, he probably smelled of sheep wool. With mud caked on his sandals, he stirred God’s power within him.

We’re like that, too; we’re walking with shoes caked with discouragement and possibly smelling of hopelessness.

And like you and I, David probably had to shoo off the enemy’s lies: “That problem is too big,” “Destruction is inevitable,” “The pain will be fierce” or “You are doomed to lose.”

And as he does today, the enemy presented opposition from all sides. People doubted David’s abilities, King Saul scratched his head with bewilderment and when Goliath saw David’s size, he laughed.

But God Smiled

…because he prompted David to shed the armor King Saul had given him. The metals and chains were way too cumbersome for his thin body. Instead, he tapped into the power of the Lord.

It was the same power he had used to bring down those ferocious bears and lions. He had the weapon—not a rifle, a shotgun, a knife or sword. And he didn’t trust in the smooth rocks in his sling either. He trusted in a greater and mightier weapon—the power of God.

Have You Faced Your Giants?

They loom over you, mock your courage and laugh at your faith. The spout the lies from the enemy that fuel your fear.

The lies that say your 2-inch faith is no match for the 9-foot giant of impossibilities. The deception that repeats you’ll never see relief, healing or triumph.

We’ve all faced that at one time or another. And in desperation we slip on that armor—our own abilities, wisdom and solutions. But dragging ourselves toward the battlefield, we find that human armor hinders us. It’s too heavy with pride.

Do as David Did

We shed that wrong armor and pull out our best weapon instead. David was bold as we should be, he’s defiant like we have to be, and he’s truthful to declare to whom belongs the victory.

It’s not the giant that threatens, but the gigantic love God has for us that must fuel our courage. That’s why David said to the Philistine, “”You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a shield, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” (1 Sam. 17:45b).

Did you read that? The God David spoke about is not just any god, He’s the Lord Almighty, Creator of the universe and immensely powerful.

Troubles can come from all sides bearing the sword of anguish, the spear of anxiety and the javelin of fear. But you and I come in the name of the Lord—with confidence, with resolve and trust that through Christ, the victory is already won.

And holding the smooth stones of faith, bearing the spiritual weapon of God’s faithfulness, we can face any giant of impossibility in the name of the Lord.

I Had to Make That Choice

In his devious craftiness, the enemy lied to me when he said it would be impossible to find peace after my son was killed. But his lies are no match for God’s truth, to God’s power of restoring what was broken, to heal that which seared, and to defeat the giant who threatens our peace.

To the world, our problems seem gigantic; to God, they are miniscule. They’re big when we see them with human eyes. They shrink when we see them through Christ’s eyes.

And as we gaze at our problem, we have a choice: either to live hoping for blessings, or to bless the hope we already have in Christ.

Let’s Pray

Father, you know the giants in my life. I confess they rob my sleep and anxiety visits often. But I ask you to fill me with the faith David had, the wisdom he carried and the courage he displayed. In Jesus’ name, amen.