I’m old enough to remember the comedy show, “Dennis the Menace.” Dennis was the naïve and lovable young child who was always getting into mischief–especially with his elderly neighbor, Mr. Wilson. It got to the point where anytime Dennis was in the vicinity, Mr. Wilson would think, “Here comes trouble.” Only Dennis’ innocence and cuteness kept him from becoming a permanent menace.
Tag: trouble
There Be Giants…
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)
I’ve been reading the beginning of the Old Testament recently and I realized that the word giants is mentioned numerous times. In checking Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, I discovered that it occurs 20 times. Tribes described as giants included the Amorites, the Emim, the Zuzim (Zamzummim), the Rephaim, the Nephilim, and the Anakim. Goliath and Og were two noted by name. Yet for all their size and strength, all of these people were destroyed. And not just by the Israelites–the sons of Esau and Lot also had to deal with them in the land that God had given them as well.
Even as a young, unsaved child, I was always amazed at David’s defeat of Goliath and the faith it took to even attempt to fight him. Despite all the giants that there may have been, David only had to fight one at that particular time. And God had prepared David to do what He wanted him to do. That preparation involved divine intervention, not human strength.
Who or what are our giants today? Something that can attack us like drugs? Alcohol? Gossip? Pornography? Infidelity? Something that comes from within like bitterness? Criticism?
gossip? Something that fills us with fear like the economy? Poor health? Or maybe there’s some difficulty with a relationship with our spouse? A boss? A teacher? A pastor? A friend.
Despite the fact that they were a stubborn, faithless and thankless group, God’s chosen people did eventually enter the Promised Land. And even though the land had originally been inhabited by giants, others had already subdued them. They were no longer a problem. They had enough to worry about with the people that they did have to defeats.
As Matthew says, there’s enough stuff to worry about each day without worrying about tomorrow. Deal with your giants one by one and remember that God is in control of everything And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Rom. 8:28)
Are you overwhelmed by the number of giants? God isn’t. He’s defeated them before, He’s defeating them now. And He will defeat them in the future.
Ken's Fireside Chat 