1 Samuel 17: The Goliaths in Our Lives: Who Do You Put Your Trust In?

24 All the Israelites, when they saw the man, fled from him and were very much afraid.
45 But David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied
51 When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

Today as I was reading 1 Samuel 17 I got a profound lesson on trust, fear, and faith. 

The Israelites, when faced with Goliath, were terrified and fled because their focus was on his strength rather than on God. On the other hand, the Philistines placed all their confidence in Goliath. But once their champion fell, they were the ones fleeing in fear.

David’s response, however, was strikingly different. He did not trust in his own strength or in his weapons. Instead, his confidence was solely in the Lord. He boldly proclaimed that his victory was not through human might but through the power of God. This trust enabled him to stand firm while others wavered in fear.

This same principle applies to our lives today. Our reactions of whether standing firm or running away often depend on what we trust in. Like the Philistines, do we place our faith in temporary securities, only to be left shaken when they fail? Or like the Israelites, do we allow fear to overwhelm us because we focus on the challenge rather than on God?

David reminds us that the key to courage is not self-reliance or external strength, but firm trust in God. He neither feared Goliath nor boasted in his own ability. His unwavering faith in God’s power allowed him to overcome what seemed impossible.

So, ask yourself: What is the “champion” you are fearing or trusting in? Is it financial security, personal abilities, relationships, or societal approval? These can either give us false confidence or unnecessary fear. True peace and courage come only when our trust is placed in the Lord.

May we learn from David’s example and stand firm, knowing that God fights our battles and that true victory is found in Him alone.