What is your Goliath?

I think most of us are familiar with the story from the Old Testament concerning the boy, David, who slew the giant, Goliath, thus defeating the Philistine army.  Here was a shepherd boy that went before a man, who was over nine feet tall, covered in armor, who was taunting the Israelite army, and killed him with a single sling shot to the forehead.  Who would have thought such a thing was possible?!  This was yet another example of how, with faith in the Lord, someone was able to defeat an enemy when the odds were against them.

(David and Goliath)

We live in a day when most of us are not going before a large army defending our lands.  We will never physically have to slay a giant.  I feel that in our time our “Goliaths” manifest themselves in other forms.  This isn't just about drinking or abusing chemical substances; “Goliaths” are any of the challenges we are having to face and try to overcome.  A challenge I have had to deal with and face is that of depression.  This isn't the run of the mill situational or seasonal depression; it has been life crippling and debilitating. I have been hospitalized several times because of it.  It has taken me over a decade of seeking medical help and relying on Heavenly Father for help with this to get to the point where I am today.  It is something I will constantly monitor to make sure I can keep this “Goliath” down. 

(lds.org)

I know you might have the same “Goliath” or a different one than me, but I do know that the only way to overcome the giants in our lives is to rely on help from above.  Whether it is the pressure to provide for your family, raise your children, deal with a physical handicap, overcome an addiction, or any other challenge, we are NOT alone.  

I think it is said best by a modern day prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, “Should there be a Goliath in our lives, or a giant called by any other name, we need not “flee” or be “sore afraid” as we go up to battle against him. Rather we can find assurance and receive divine help from Him of whom David wrote in his inspired psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. … Yea, though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” I can personally testify of the truthfulness of this, the only way to deal with our “Goliaths” is to face them head on relying on God to see us through. 

Obedience is always required.

Are rules only applicable when given or enforced by certain people?  Are you to only follow the rules set by your parents, school teachers, or employers when they are around?  Or what happens when a new teacher or boss comes, do the old rules not apply? This week in my Old Testament class, I learned about the death of Moses and how Joshua then led the children of Israel into the promise land.  I then studied some of what transpired after they got there.  

An underlying theme in the scriptures is that obedience to the commandments of God and His prophets is always required.  If we are expecting help from above, then we need to be doing what has been asked of us.  It did not matter that Moses was no longer the prophet, obedience to the same rules and commandments were required of the children of Israel under Joshua as when Moses was the prophet.  

In my opinion, one of the coolest examples of what obedience can bring is when the walls of Jericho fell.  Joshua and the army of Israelites are required to march around Jericho a certain number of times for so many days while also carrying the ark of the covenant. They were then to all shout at a specific point. After completing these instructions, the walls of the city fell and the people inside destroyed. All of this occurred because of obedience.  Regardless of how absurd what was required sounded, obedience brought a miracle.

    (Battle of Jericho by Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld) 

Also, obedience was required regardless that is was now Joshua who led the Israelites, not Moses.  I am grateful that God is constant and that what is required of me does not change, obedience to all His commandments and prophets.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Jericho