The Twirling of the Stick | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Twirling of the Stick | Previous Challenge Entry
By Shanta Richard
02/24/14
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It had been snowing continually for the past two days. The once beautiful winter wonderland was loosing its charm and turning dismal and monotonous. It perfectly matched my mood that evening. Life wasn’t fair to me. I was being singled out to do the most difficult and complicated projects and always held accountable for the inevitable mistakes. In desperation I prayed, “Please, dear God, help me. This job is overwhelming and I don’t know how to do it. Please give me an answer.”

In the stillness of that snowy night these words flashed upon my mind: “David found it.” Was this God’s answer? What did David find? Was it about his confrontation with Goliath? I took out my Bible and turned to the story about Goliath and David – chapter 17 of the book of Ist. Samuel, in the Old Testament of the Bible. As I read through the passage, a picture of the battlefield unfurled itself on my imagination.

It was in the Valley of Elah where the armies of Israel and the Philistines faced each other in full battle array. Goliath the ten feet tall Philistine giant in full armor of bronze (weighing 126 pounds), is strolling up and down in the center, unconcernedly waving his heavy spear like baton roaring threatening curses. David shows up wearing a shepherd’s tunic. A leather pouch hanging from his belt and leather sandals complete his armor. His only weapon is a sling with a stone which he carelessly swirls over his head with his right hand.

I can imagine the incredible look of puzzlement on the giant’s face when he looks down at this pint sized, rosy cheeked, curly headed youngster, challenging him, the mighty Philistine warrior, with a ridiculous sling and stone. I can see him throwing back his head in a loud guffaw and burst out laughing until the tears blind his eyes. Maybe that is why he did not see the smooth stone spinning out of David’s sling and flying straight to his forehead. As he passed from life into death, I guess he never knew what hit him.

David , the untrained, ill-equipped, shepherd boy challenged and overcame Goliath, the warrior, great in stature, strength and skill, because he trusted in the Mighty God of the universe. Goliath believed that David had the short end of the stick. But David passed it on to his Lord who twirled it so that it made a perfect landing in Goliath’s lap.

So this was the answer to my question. To follow David’s example and place my frustration and confusion in God’s competent hands and watch Him twirl the short end of the stick away from me and give me wisdom and strength to complete my project successfully. My God is righteous and He would do for me what He did for David if I am faithful and trust Him as David did.

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