You know how sometimes you have thoughts about certain subjects and then several unconnected instances affirm that you need to talk about them? Yeah? Wow, so you are with me?! Cool.

Lately, I’ve felt a little like a David (you know the old story, right?). Well, David was small and really, pretty insignificant. He was actually a sheep-herder/songwriter. Anyway, his older brothers were in the camp of Israelites being threated daily by the Philistines and in particular, one pretty scary dude – Goliath. I don’t know if it’s because I already know who Goliath is but his name alone freaks me out. Goliath stood over nine (some texts indicate eleven) feet tall. He had people that carried his armor for him. He used his size and likely, reputation, to threaten the opposing troops daily. This had been going on for quite some time when David came and saw faces lined with fear and also, defeat.

When David said he was going to take on the giant, I would assume the troops had a good chuckle. He was, in their eyes, a 17-year-old punk. How in the world was he going to fight Goliath? It was worth a shot, though. I mean, they weren’t really getting anywhere.

The rest is history, right? David declines being suited up as a soldier normally would, simply takes his slingshot and five smooth stones and as the giant insults him, hurls one stone directly into his forehead knocking him over and then killing him. He quickly decapitated him with the giant’s own sword. I love that part.

I am facing giants. We are ALL facing giants. In life, the giants seem insurmountable and downright scary. Giants don’t have to be people, either. They can be money challenges, relationship issues, diseases, work issues, etc. What matters is not what the issues are for each of us, it’s how we face them.

David brought five stones into his battle. I’m sure there are several schools of thought about why he chose five. Was he unsure that one would do the trick? Didn’t he think three would be enough? I don’t know why, either. But, I will say that five is indicative of his persistence.

He wasn’t about to give up. And we shouldn’t either. It doesn’t matter what your giant is but just.keep.going. People ask me how I’m doing and I struggle with an answer and I feel like I often come up with, “Well, I’m just taking things one day at a time.” Because I am. One stone may not ever do the trick. You probably will have to tackle a giant more than once before he “falls,” but don’t quit. Sooner or later, you’ll realize that it’s not even about the one (or five, or twenty) stones you’re carrying – it’s about whose right behind you slinging them on your behalf.

Connor’s current giant