Sunday’s Blessing – 10/12/2025 – Fear is Crippling

Sunday’s Blessing – 10/12/2025 – Fear is Crippling

In the study of the life of David, this past week we looked at the confrontation with Goliath. The biggest mystery for me in this story was why Israel chose to listen to Goliath’s challenge day after day, as though they were bound to fight the way Goliath made the challenge: one man from Israel come and fight the one man from the Philistines – Goliath?

There was no obligation on the part of Israel to fight in this manner. The clear motivation for them to not attack the enemy was fear. King Saul, who had previously led Israel in many battles where they were always victorious. But something had changed. Because of Saul’s disobedience, God had withdrawn His Spirit from Saul, leaving him dependent totally upon his own ability, which he knew was not sufficient to lead a nation.

This fear left him paralyzed, unable to move, because he was the clear answer to Goliath’s challenge. Saul was the warrior of Israel, or at least, he had been. Now, he was a powerless king without the ability to even suit up in his armor and face the enemy.

In comes David, the antithesis of fear, placing his complete trust in God and in God’s ability. “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” You can read the rest of the story in 1 Samuel 17. David took on the giant and prevailed.

There are so many obvious differences between Saul and David – their size, their experience, their popularity – but the one thing that mattered on this day was their level of trust in their God. Saul was unable to move because of fear. David could not be still because of his trust in God. Which one are you?

Today’s blessing:

May the God of Peace impart to you the grace which dispels fear

So you may gain inner tranquility which will bring the ability to rest

So you may find strength in Him to move forward

To reveal the character of God to your world

May you realize, like Paul, that the God in you is greater than the god of this world

Which gives you reason to hope for a better outcome than what you may now have

So you may quell the voices keeping you afraid

And hear the call from the Father to “jump and I’ll catch you”

May you accept the forgiveness of God for not pursuing your purpose

So you may know it is not too late for you to complete your mission

So you may see the fulfillment and satisfaction of God’s presence

And truly rest in the peace and presence of God