Overcoming Discouragement and Experiencing Victories

“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word.” [1]

David, the Psalmist, rejoiced in, meditated on, contemplated, delighted in, and intentionally remembered God’s Word. He was happy to say so!

His relationship with the Lord yielded for his faith when others cast doubt on him. Take for example, the day that he conquered the bully Goliath. Before he fought the giant, he had to overcome the skeptical dispositions of an older brother and his king.

His oldest brother, Eliab, said to him, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” [2]

His king said to him, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” [3]

After hearing David’s testimonies about what the Lord had done for him, Saul put his own armor on David. If David had wore it, he would have died that day. Instead of relishing in the opportunity to be dressed like a king for battle, David resolved to remain with the formula that had worked for him in the past... Slingshot + stones + God = victory. [4]

Next, the words of the giant were shot at David. The giant looked down on David in a demeaning way and said, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” He cursed David by his gods. [5]

David was not discouraged. He was not demoralized. Why? He had faith in God and what God can do because he had been reading God’s Word...

1) “I come to you in the LORD’s name... whom you have defied.”
2) “This day THE LORD will deliver you into my hand...”
3) “The battle is the LORD’s. HE will give you into our hands.” [6]

God gave David numerous victories as he continued to read God’s Word and trust in God!

[1] Psalm 119:14-16
[2] 1 Samuel 17:28
[3] 1 Samuel 17:33
[4] 1 Samuel 17:38-40
[5] 1 Samuel 17:43
[6] 1 Samuel 17:45-47