1 Samuel 17: Childlike Faith

“And the Philistine drew near and presented himself forty days, morning and evening. Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, ‘Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle...’ ...Then David said to Saul, ‘Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.’ Moreover David said, ‘The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you!’ ...Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a 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.’”‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17‬:‭16‬, ‭28‬, ‭32‬, ‭37‬, ‭45‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I don’t know that I ever noticed before how David’s brother called him out—accusing him of pride and arrogance for even thinking he could face Goliath.

As quickly as that thought came, so did the reminder: “come like a child.”  David wasn’t being prideful.

Just yesterday I was wrestling with a decision I feel led to make about selling my home. I’ve questioned if I’m being too slow, wondering about my hesitation. I've literally been comparing myself to my younger years. I probably would have moved quicker—some might have called it haste, but maybe it was a little like the childlike faith we see in David today. I also thinkning about how with age, there’s wisdom that comes from lived experience, and because of that there can be discernment and there can be hesitation. I find myself pausing often, checking the posture of my heart before taking that next step. I don't want to hesitate but I also want to be wise!

This word this morning sent me straight to my knees. Lord, not my will, but Yours be done. Help me discern—let any slowness in my spirit come from wisdom and not from a lack of faith. Give me childlike faith again. Don’t let life’s weight keep me from moving where You’re asking me to go.