Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but

we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 20:7

Chariots and horses were used in war. Some nations relied on their weapons of war for victory, but David is saying he trusted in God to secure the win. This would not surprise us because in 1 Samuel 17, we read that as a young shepherd boy, he was sent by his father to find out how his brothers were doing in the war. What he soon found out was there was a giant named Goliath. When David arrived, the Israelite army was just leaving for the battlefield, shouting their war cry. David ran out to find his brothers and while he was talking to them, Goliath showed up. Goliath had been coming out to challenge them every morning and every evening for forty days. He was taunting and defying the armies of Israel. Saul and the Israelites were terrified and deeply shaken. This day was no different. They turned and ran. King Saul was offering a huge reward to the one who killed Goliath, but all the men were too scared. But David saw things from a different perspective. He said, “Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God? (v.26)”

I can’t help but think this is how God would want us to respond also. We know we have an enemy. He is out to intimidate us and keep us living in fear and discouragement. This includes the way we respond to the place in which our prodigals are in. Do we focus on what we see and what many times seems impossible or do we say like David did, “Who does this enemy think he is?” I don’t know if David felt any fear, but I do know that his courage was greater than any fear he had. His trust was in the name of the Lord his God. He didn’t focus on Goliath, he focused on the strength and power of God. He put his trust in Almighty God, maker of heaven and earth. He knew nothing was impossible with God.

I often wonder; did David know he would defeat Goliath or did he go into the fight not knowing what would happen? Maybe it doesn’t matter. What matters is David didn’t let the enemy become larger than God. We already know that the war has been won…that Jesus defeated Satan when he rose from the dead and conquered death. In this life, we will fight many battles and Satan will do everything in his power to intimidate us or keep us from taking action or putting our trust in God. It would seem as if he, Satan, has won the battle over our prodigals, but don’t be too sure of that. It is not over. Just like God used David to defeat Goliath, when it seemed impossible to the Israelite army that Goliath could be defeated, God may use an unlikely person or way of defeating the enemy that is beyond our comprehension. We have to resist other enemies as well…fear, complacency discouragement, hopelessness, unbelief, and apathy. These are Satan’s tactics. He will use anything. He will use our busyness or any excuse we make not to pray. He will use our pain and hurt to convince us it’s not worth it, or our anger at the injustice of it all. He will use our sorrow to keep us focused on ourselves or our guilt to keep us mired in a spirit of defeat…are you getting the picture?

God says, “I want to give you peace. I want to give you strength and endurance. I want to give you hope. I even want to give you joy. My joy isn’t dependent on what’s going on around you. What if I want to use your joy to entice your prodigal? What if I want them to see your peace? What if I want them to feel the love I have for them by the way you spend time with Me and My love shows through you? What if I want to give you such endurance and faith that praying becomes not only natural, but something you have to do because I have put that desire in you. Stop second guessing Me and just trust Me. Spend time with Me, finding out My perspective. I know what I am doing and my plans will succeed. Stop focusing on what you see and focus on Me, who is unseen, but never changes. My thoughts are higher than your thoughts and My ways are higher than your ways…just like the heavens are higher than the earth. Just like a seed is planted and it yields food to eat at the right time (Isaiah 55:8-11). What if you planted a seed and then spent all your time looking at it waiting for it to grow and complaining or falling into discouragement because you don’t see anything right away. What if you gave up and never went back to the field. Silly, because you know the law of reap and harvest in the natural…you know there is a waiting period and you rest during that time. You pray for the rain and you pray for the sun which will produce a good harvest. You till the ground in preparation. You plant at the right time. This is the right time. Your prayers are reaching Me and I am listening and responding. Your pleas are irresistible to me because of Jesus. He has bridged the gap and He is My beloved Son who I have given all power and authority to. He is interceding for you (Hebrews 7:25). The Holy Spirit lives inside you reminding you of everything I have said…relaying to you what I want you to know (John 14:26). Listen to what the Holy Spirit will do:

…he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness and of the coming judgement. The

world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. Righteousness is available because I go to the Father,

and you will see me no more. Judgement will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.

John 16:8-11

Wow! This lets you off the hook! Rather than worry, fret, or try to make it go faster, you can rest, pray and trust in Me, the One who has it covered.” Lauren Daigle sings a song, Trust in You, that says it very well.

Trust In You by Lauren Daigle

Letting go of every single dream I lay each one at Your feet Every moment of my wandering

Never changes what You see I’ve tried to win this war I confess My hands are weary I need Your rest Mighty Warrior, King of the fight No matter what I face, You’re by my side When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You! Truth is, You know what tomorrow beings There’s not a day ahead You have not seen So, in all things be my life and breath I want what You want Lord and nothing less When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You! You are my strength and comfort You are my steady hand You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand Your ways are always higher Your plans are always good There’s not a place where I’ll go, You’ve not already stood When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You! I will trust in You! I will trust in You! I will trust in You!