August 13, 2023
“He trains my hands for battle, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze." -Psalm 18:34
We often wonder why we experience so many trials, troubles, and difficulties in our lives. Questions begin to surface and cloud our reasoning, and we fail to ask the one true Source for help. We either attempt to solve the problem on our own, or turn to friends or family members first in order that we may desperately discover an escape route from the dilemma that we are facing.
However, the route leading to escapism will only cause us to become stunted in our spiritual growth and keep us from seeing God’s hand at work. Amazingly enough, the answer to the demands we come across on a daily basis have been made known to us in the pages of Scripture.
God is in the process of developing and leading us into becoming mature sons and daughters: "Consider it all joy my brethren, when you encounter various trials; knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2). Moreover, we are also being spiritually prepared and equipped in order that we may be able to confront whatever challenges the future may hold for us.
Even as a young man David had a clear understanding of God’s previous work in his life, and early on he applied the principles that he learned. Before facing Goliath (1 Sam 17), he testified of two extremely trying and stressful situations he had undergone, and the great triumphs the Lord had provided him: “Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them…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” (1 Samuel 17:36,37).
David was confident as he faced what appeared to be a momentous undertaking. He would prove to those around him that the outcome would result in victory. He was assured in his heart that the Lord would see him through this difficulty and provide him the strength to overcome through His power and presence.
It is in our most pressing times where we will see our troubles as an opportunity to see God’s faithfulness at work. If we are anxious we will find his peace. When perplexed we will find his wisdom, and gain his strength when we are weak: "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
The Lord was at work early on in David’s life as He was sharpening and honing his skills, and training him for what he would face in his later years. God would thereby enable him to become accustomed to various strenuous ordeals of everyday life in order that he could move ahead in courage and faith and deal head-on with those pressing issues that seemed to great for him. His assurance would not only be in his own abilities and talents, but: “in the name of the LORD of hosts” (1 Samuel 17:45).
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