Simple acts of faith

There once lived a young man, the youngest of eight sons.  His older brother's fought wars and defended their land.  This young man tended sheep for his father.  He cared for and protected the animals from predators and was sort of the "errand boy" for his aging father.

One day he was asked to check on his brothers on the battlefield and bring them food.  He did as he was asked.  While there, he heard that there was a giant; a fierce warrior among the opposing army challenging and taunting their army of daily.  This young man found out that if this giant could be killed, they would win the war.  If they lost, they would become slaves. The entire army was greatly concerned about this, as they didn't believe anyone could defeat the giant; this battle was simply too much for one person to handle by themselves.

This young man wasn't an ordinary kid, though.  He trusted God with his life.  No matter how big the obstacle, he knew that God was in control.  So the tiny shepherd stepped up to fight, not with armor or swords, but with faith and a slingshot.  The giant laughed, thinking this unarmed kid was easy to defeat.  Our young man stepped up to a situation far bigger than he, and used the only tool he knew how to use.  He shot a single stone and knocked the big guy out.  The giant (Goliath) fell to the ground, where he was killed.  This frightened the opposing army and the men ran for their lives. 

Our young friend, David, loved God with his life and eventually became King of Israel himself as he proved himself to be a faithful servant of the Lord (1 and 2 Samuel). 

Is there a battle front in your life?  What do you have to face with your faith as your only weapon?  Is there a giant taunting you, telling you there's just NO way you can be victorious?

Seizures and fear of losing my daughter are that front line to me now.  This situation is a giant that I don't know how to defeat.  I feel like I am not properly armed or equipped.  It doesn't seem safe.  I am out of my league. 

The fate of Israel is not on my shoulders, but the life of my daughter weighs heavily.  Seemingly simple acts of faith are stretching me further than I'd like to go.  David didn't agonize over not being able to see how the battle would end.  He knew God was on his side, and he wasn't worried.  What David, Emily, you, and I have in common is that when God asks us to do something, anything HE asks us to do, we can do. 

David faced down a giant with a slingshot.  He trusted that God had equipped him.  I lay my child down at night feeling like any time she's not in my arms, I can't be sure a seizure won't pull her face into a pillow and stop her breathing.  I put her on a bus in the morning and send her to school not knowing if she is safe, if her life is changing, or if her brain is being attacked.  What was simple faith, the general belief that life will stay relatively unchanged from day to day, has become a "Goliath-sized faith".

I look up at this huge situation that has absolutely changed our lives in a single day, and my eyes could easily stop there.  I could easily stay focused on the giant.  I do focus on the giant in the room.  I am afraid of it.  I've devoted my entire life to keeping my girls healthy and alive.  Now there is something that we can't control changing and threatening her.  Today has been a good day for her, the first in a while.  I hope and pray that we have another one tomorrow.

Trusting God means that I have faith in his sovereignty over any place I find myself in.  Really trusting Him means that my need to control and fix, and in this case protect, lays down, steps aside and lets the same King who appointed and delivered a young David, walk in the center isle of my life. If I let my eyes continue to drift up, over the head of giant, I can see that there is so much more.  All of the heavens and earth, the Creator.  The one who can see it all. He watches my girls and gives me the strength I need to face whatever comes my way. 

I will probably never understand all of this.  I will always feel sadness and loss.  I grieve every moment of suffering my children endure.  Even as simple acts of faith become giant leaps, I will trust him.

Psalm 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, you people;Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.