Don't Get Overwhelmed
Don't Get Overwhelmed: Facing Your Giants with Faith
Life throws challenges at all of us. Whether it's work pressure, family responsibilities, health concerns, or financial struggles, we all face moments when everything seems too much to handle. That overwhelming feeling—when you're completely overcome in mind or feeling—affects everyone at some point.
But what if the key to overcoming these overwhelming moments is simply a matter of perspective?
What Does It Mean to Be Overwhelmed?
To be overwhelmed means you're completely overcome in mind or feeling. You're filled up or loaded with an excessive amount of something. This feeling can affect anyone:
Parents feel overwhelmed getting kids ready for school
Workers feel overwhelmed with deadlines and demanding bosses
Students feel overwhelmed with homework, tests, and social pressures
When we're feeling overwhelmed, it's usually because there's a Goliath—a giant—standing in front of us. And often, we're losing sight of the main thing: our relationship with God.
How Can David and Goliath Help Us Handle Overwhelming Situations?
The story of David and Goliath offers powerful insights into facing overwhelming odds. Let's examine what made David different from everyone else facing the same giant.
The Power of Perspective
When the Israelite army saw Goliath, they described him as "the giant" and ran away in fright. But David described him differently: "Who is this pagan Philistine anyway that he's allowed to defy the armies of the living God?"
Same giant, completely different perspective.
The soldiers saw an unbeatable physical threat. David saw someone defying his God, turning it from a physical battle to a spiritual one. This shift in perspective changed everything.
Don't Let Criticism Stop You
When David stepped up to face Goliath, he faced criticism from two sources:
His own brother: "Why are you here? I know you're just nosy and want to see the battle."
King Saul: "You can't fight him! You're just a boy, and he's been a warrior since his youth."
When you're stepping out in faith to face your giants, criticism will come, often from those closest to you. Don't let it stop you. Use criticism not as fuel to prove others wrong, but as fuel to prove God right.
Use What You Know, Not What Others Expect
Saul tried to give David his armor and weapons, but David refused them. Instead, he chose five smooth stones and his sling—the tools he had mastered while protecting his sheep.
In your battles, don't feel pressured to use methods that work for others. Use the gifts, talents, and experiences God has already given you. David didn't try to fight like Saul; he fought like David.
Remember Whose Battle It Really Is
The most important lesson from David's victory is this: "This is the Lord's battle." The Israelite army was overwhelmed because they thought it was their fight. David knew better.
"You come to me with sword, spear and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of heaven's armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied today."
Don't look at your spiritual battles as your own. They belong to the Lord. He started fighting well before you did, and He is fighting with you now.
How Can I Defeat the Giants in My Life?
David's victory gives us a formula for defeating giants:
Love for God + God-given abilities + Eagerness to fight = Defeated giants
Which part of this equation are you struggling with?
Love for God - Are you loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?
God-given abilities - Are you recognizing and using the gifts and talents God has given you?
Eagerness to fight - Are you ready to face your challenges, or are you running and hiding?
What Giant Are You Facing Today?
What Goliath has been intimidating you? What lies have you been believing? The enemy is described as the father of lies, so identifying these falsehoods is crucial.
The truth that will defeat these lies can only be found in Scripture. If you want to know what God says about you and your situation, you need to dive into His Word.
How to Change Your Perspective
Whatever has you feeling overwhelmed, begin by changing your perspective. Stop looking at your problem from your limited viewpoint. Instead, see it from God's throne.
Don't see your giant as too big to overcome. See it as too big to miss—a perfect target for God's power to be displayed.
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to identify the "Goliath" in your life—that overwhelming situation that's causing you fear or anxiety. Then, deliberately change your perspective by asking these questions:
How am I currently viewing this challenge? Am I seeing it as an unbeatable giant or as an opportunity for God to show His power?
What criticism have I received about facing this challenge, and am I letting it hold me back?
What God-given abilities do I already possess that could help me face this challenge?
Have I been trying to fight this battle on my own, or have I surrendered it to God as "the Lord's battle"?
What specific truth from Scripture contradicts the lies I've been believing about this situation?
Remember: The battle belongs to the Lord. Your job isn't to defeat the giant on your own—it's to show up with your five smooth stones, trusting that God will direct them exactly where they need to go.
