King David, King Jesus, and Me? Defeating Your Giants

Defeating Your Giants

King David, King Jesus, and Me | May 17, 2026

Have you ever felt like the underdog?

Like everyone around you is bigger, stronger, more confident — and you’re just standing there wondering how you ended up in this fight at all? You are not alone. And this week, we’re going back to one of the most beloved stories in all of Scripture to find out what God has to say about the giants in your life.

Open your Bible to 1 Samuel 17.

Setting the Scene

In the ancient world, battles were sometimes decided the old-fashioned way — one soldier against another. Whoever won the fight, won the battle for their entire side. It was personal. It was high stakes. And it was terrifying.

That’s exactly the situation Israel found itself in. A nine-foot giant named Goliath had been stepping out every morning and every evening for forty days, shouting his challenge across the valley. The whole army of Israel was shaking in their sandals. Nobody moved.

Then came David.

He wasn’t a soldier. He was a teenager delivering lunch to his brothers. But when he heard Goliath’s taunts, something rose up in him.

“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26)

David knew exactly who the enemy was.

David’s Three Secrets

David wasn’t reckless. He was prepared — just not in the way anyone expected.

•  He knew his enemy. David had faced down a lion and a bear while protecting his father’s sheep (1 Samuel 17:36). He didn’t dismiss the threat. He understood it. And he recognized that Goliath’s real offense wasn’t military — it was spiritual. This giant was defying the living God.

•  He knew God’s will. David didn’t put on Saul’s armor. It didn’t fit, and more importantly, it wasn’t his armor. His armor was God Himself. When the battle belongs to the Lord, you don’t need to dress like the world to win. David went out as himself, equipped with what God had already placed in his hands.

•  He knew God’s power. He didn’t walk toward Goliath. He ran (1 Samuel 17:48). One smooth stone, a leather sling, and the name of the Lord — and Goliath fell face down in the dirt. The giant that had terrorized an entire army was brought down by a shepherd boy with faith.

Your Giants Are Real

We all have giants. Maybe yours doesn’t stand nine feet tall and carry a spear — but it shows up just as loud. Fear. Anxiety. A broken relationship that keeps you up at night. An addiction that started small and grew into something you barely recognize. Debt that piles up faster than you can dig out. A diagnosis that changed everything.

James 1:14-15 gives us a sobering picture. Sin — and the things that entangle us — start small. Think of a tiny, fluffy bear cub. Adorable, right? Harmless looking. But that little cub doesn’t stay little. Left unchecked, it grows into a massive, dangerous beast.

Your giant didn’t always look like a giant. But here you are.

How to Fight Back

Here’s the good news; David’s strategy works for you too.

•  Know your enemy. You cannot defeat what you refuse to name. Spend time in God’s Word. Let Scripture shine a light on what’s really going on — because the enemy of your soul doesn’t want you looking too closely.

•  Know God’s will for your life. The only way to do that is to give your life fully to God. Stop trying to wear armor that doesn’t belong to you. You were made for His purposes, not the world’s prescription.

•  Put on the full armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-18 isn’t just a Sunday school lesson. It’s battle gear. Belt of truth. Breastplate of righteousness. Shoes of peace. Shield of faith. Helmet of salvation. Sword of the Spirit. Wear it every single day.

And when your giant starts pressing in on you — and it will — here’s what you do:

•  Pray. Don’t stare at the giant. Look up.

•  Focus on God instead of your giant. What you magnify gets bigger. Choose wisely.

•  Refuse to listen when the giant shouts. It will try to convince you it’s too big, too powerful, too far gone. Don’t give it the microphone.

•  Remind your giant of how big your God is. David didn’t say, “I hope I can do this.” He said, “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47).

•  Go on the offense. David ran toward Goliath. He didn’t wait for the giant to shrink. He charged. James 4:6-10 tells us to humble ourselves before God, resist the devil, and he will flee. That’s not passive. That’s active faith.

You Don’t Fight Alone

David defeated Goliath. But there’s a Greater David in your story.

Jesus faced the cross — the ultimate giant — for you and for me. He didn’t shrink back. He ran toward it. And He won. Death itself fell face down in the dirt.

That same power — resurrection power — lives inside every believer. You are not standing in that valley alone. You have the Spirit of the living God in you.

So, look your giant in the eye today.

And remind it who your God is.

Blessings,

Donna

1 Samuel 17 • James 1:14-15 • Ephesians 6:10-18 • James 4:6-10