Do You Feel Defeated?

By Brenda Boen
January 2, 2009

Often times we feel attacked by the enemy and want to lash out with all the strength we can muster.  We have hurtful words and circumstances hurled at us from every side.  The unrelenting attacks keep coming and we eventually begin to get tired and weak.  Then we begin to feel defeated when all our strength is depleted.  We then begin to give up.

In the book of Samuel (1 Samuel 17) there was giant of a man who intimidated the people with all his strength and stature.  His name was Goliath.  He was a giant with an attitude.  He immobilized an entire army of Israelites who had forgot that their champion was the Lord their God.  Goliath had weapons, size and arrogance on his side.  The people were overwhelmed by the mere size of this man and his threats.  But there was a bold young boy who brought Goliath to his knees.

 

David was a shepherd boy.  He took a bold stance.  “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26).  He took action and stood up to Goliath.  What an unrealistic approach you say?  He was a mere shadow next to Goliath.  But what we have to remember is that David had faith in God and knew that with His help that he could defeat Goliath. 

 

David was given suitable armor and weapons to defeat Goliath but turned them all away.  He knew that all he needed to rely on was his trust in God and his shepherd’s sling.  When others looked at Goliath they saw someone way too big to defeat.  But David saw a target too big to miss.  When David stood up to Goliath he used his sling and one of the stones he hurled at him found a weak spot and defeated the huge giant in a single blow. 

 

What we need understand here is that God used a small boy to defeat a huge giant.  He transformed Goliath’s strength into weakness and David’s weakness into strength.  You see, David was equipped with God’s spiritual armor.  Ephesians 6:10-18 describes all the armor that is available to Christians every day at every moment.

 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

 

God makes these weapons, our spiritual armor, available to us any time we need them.  How sad it is that we often neglect them and try to defeat the enemy on our own.  God’s armor will never fail us.  Be sure to put your armor on daily and it will always be available to you when the enemy attacks.