December 5, 2022

I Samuel 17: 37 (NIV)

“The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

God’s proof is God’s past. Forgetfulness sires fearfulness, but a good memory makes for a good heart.*

Can you name a time that the Lord didn’t deliver you? In reflecting upon this recently, I thought of a couple of seemingly hopeless situations I had faced in the past. I couldn’t remember the specifics of the solution to those long ago trials but I thought, “Here I am.” Clearly, God showed up or I wouldn’t be.

If I could look back on some occasions when God let me down, I would be justified in doubting him for the future. Instead, I can speak with the confidence of the young David who remembered how God had delivered him from a lion and from a bear. It’s interesting that he didn’t blame God for having had to face wild animals. He seemed to understand and accept that life is dangerous - but we don’t have to face danger alone.

Lions. Bears. Giants. God can handle them all. Remember the vanquished bears and lions from your past the next time you face the giants of your present.

Focus less on the problems ahead and more on the victories behind.*