There’s something about the story of David that keeps coming back to me lately.
David was chosen by God to be king long before he ever wore a crown. God had already called him, already set him apart, already destined him for something greater. But before David ever sat on a throne, he had to stand in a valley facing a giant.
God could have handed David the crown immediately. Instead, He handed him Goliath.
And David isn’t the only example. Moses spent forty years wandering in the wilderness before leading people into freedom. Joseph sat in prison before stepping into the palace. So many people in scripture were shaped in difficult places long before they stepped into the purpose God had for them.
Maybe that’s because God is more concerned with refining us than rewarding us. We want crowns, but God often starts with giants.
Lately, I’ve been walking through a season of doubt. Questions. Fear. Uncertainty. The kind that keeps your mind racing late at night. And maybe, just maybe, this season is my Goliath. Not something sent to destroy me, but something God can use to shape me.
I don’t know what waits on the other side of this season. I don’t know if there’s some earthly reward coming. Honestly, there may not be, and that’s not easy to accept. We naturally want the pain to lead to promotion, recognition, or visible blessings, but faith teaches us something deeper than that.
Sometimes the reward is not a crown you can wear here on earth. Sometimes the reward is becoming the person God is calling you to be. Stronger. Wiser. More dependent on Him. Less consumed with control and more anchored in trust.
And there is peace in knowing this:
Even when I stand in front of my Goliath, I do not stand there alone. God stands with me.
He fights battles I cannot see. He strengthens me when I feel weak. He reminds me that giants do not have the final word. Fear does not have the final word. Doubt does not have the final word. God does.
So, maybe this season is not punishment. Maybe it is preparation.
Prayer:
God, sometimes I do not understand the valleys You allow me to walk through. I do not always understand the giants standing in front of me or the seasons of doubt that weigh heavily on my heart. But even in my uncertainty, help me trust that You are still working.
Refine me in this season. Shape my heart, strengthen my faith, and teach me to depend on You more than I depend on my own understanding. When fear grows loud, remind me that You are greater. When doubt creeps in, remind me of Your promises. And when I feel weak, remind me that I never face these battles alone.
Help me remember that You are not only the God of the crown, but also the God of the wilderness, the valleys, and the battles in between. Give me the courage to keep walking faithfully, even when I cannot yet see the purpose behind the struggle.
And if this season is preparation for something greater, then prepare me well.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Forged by The Word 