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.