Not Insignificant

I was reading in 1 Samuel 17 about David and Goliath and was so impressed by David's refusal to let what others think discourage him. In verses 28-30 David's has a typical brotherly conversation where he was asking about Goliath, seeming interested in taking him on and wondering why no Israelite had taken the challenge yet. His brother basically told him to go on, that he was just there to see the battle and dismissed his questions. David responds like the little brother would and goes on to ask the crowd what he had done wrong and their perspective about his questioning. They agreed with his brother....David was insignificant against the giant and was just talking foolishly, perhaps even arrogantly. Their doubt did not deter him though, and David goes on to slay the giant and later to become one of the greatest kings of Israel.

How many times if faced with discouragement and doubt do we in turn doubt ourselves as well? Or, if we don't doubt our own ability we get frustrated with others lack of belief or support and walk away, leaving them to fend for themselves when we had the ability to overcome the situation. David relied on God, which is something we cannot overlook, he didn't run out there alone but he kept his faith and did what God asked unaffected by what the others thought of him or the size of the giant. When we face our own "Goliaths" we need to remember to keep our heads up and keep pushing forward if we know God is with us, no matter what kind of doubt from others or feeling of insignificance we might face.


 28 Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger burned against David and he said, "Why have you come down? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart; for you have come down in order to see the battle." 29 But David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a question ?" 30 Then he turned away from him to another and said the same thing; and the people answered the same thing as before .

http://www.studylight.org/desk/index.cgi?sr=1&old_q=1sa+17%3A56&search_form_type=general&q1=1+Samuel+17&s=0&t1=en_nas&ns=0