Don't Let Fear Paralyze You
By: Molly

Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 17: 1-58

Does fear sometimes paralyze you and keep you from the destiny of God over your life? Fear almost kept the people of Israel from God’s destiny and purposes for their lives and nation. Do you remember the story of David and Goliath? The book of 1 Samuel 17:4-7 tells us a little about Goliath. It states, “He was over nine feet tall. 5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels (125 pounds); 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels (15 pounds).” As you can tell, this man was not ordinary. He was a BIG fellow – he stood over 9 feet tall and wore battle armor that weighed over a hundred pounds. Goliath was a champion of war.

Unfortunately, Goliath was also a Philistine, an enemy of Israel. For forty days this ungodly Philistine would come out morning and evening and shout at and taunt the army of Israel (1 Samuel 17:16). Goliath shouted, “"Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." 10 Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” Goliath resisted God’s people boldly and openly. He challenged them to something which seemed impossible in their human reasoning. Not one of Israel’s mighty men was up to this challenge. As a matter of fact, 1 Samuel tells us that “all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified” (1 Samuel 17:11).

Does this story sound like one in your own life? Do you feel dismayed and fearful? Many times the enemy will come against us and the God ordained destiny for our lives. The enemy would like to get us into such fear that we become paralyzed and unable to move in faith, much like an insect bound up, paralyzed, and trapped in a spider’s web. The enemy uses thoughts he places in our minds that become a stronghold when we start to believe them. Some lies that the enemy has attempted to use in my own life are - This is impossible, you can never do this, who do you think you are, you’re going to fail and be embarrassed in front of everybody, this mountain is insurmountable, you’re just a plain Jane, you’re just a woman, no one will ever listen to you. Do some of these or similar thoughts come to your mind? You see, if the enemy can get you to believe these lies, he has already won the battle.

This is precisely what was happening in Israel. Their enemy Goliath had them believing they did not stand a chance against him. Thank goodness one man was able to see past his fears and know the battle was not his but the Lord’s. This man’s name was David, the youngest son of Jesse. David was a shepherd boy who kept watch over his father’s sheep. Through his shepherding years, David had seen the hand of God deliver him and help him keep watch over his father’s sheep. David said to King Saul in 1 Samuel 17: 34-37, “Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

David had faith that his Lord would deliver him from the hand of Goliath and save the nation of Israel. David pressed through his obstacles and won the victory. As he went out to battle against Goliath, once again the enemy tried to paralyze him with fear. Goliath shouted, “44 "Come here," he said, "and I'll give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!". However, David’s faith continued to rest in the Lord of the battle. David said to Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 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."

God was the “I AM” for David that day. God helped David conquer Goliath with just a sling and a stone. David won the victory and proved that God is truly faithful to his beloved nation Israel. God also promoted David that day and I’m sure caused a new faith to arise in his heart. Do you believe God is able to deliver you? Are there obstacles in your life that seem impossible? God will also be faithful to you as you seek to follow Him in all your ways and with your whole heart. Know that in the midst of the battle there is nothing impossible for God. He is able to make all grace abound to you. He is able to conquer your Goliath. He is able to help you. Let faith arise in your heart for the victory. He is the great “I AM” and He will come through for you. Remember, the battle is not yours but the Lord’s.