Trust God With a Stone in Your Hand ~Edd Sterchi, Broadway Church of Christ, Campbellsville, KY~ I hope that title got your attention. Let me explain what I mean by it. David was a man who trusted God. He wrote in Psalm 62:7-8, “In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times…” God was his rock, and he had a rock-solid trust in Him. This is the way David lived his life – even from his youth. Let’s look at one such example from David’s younger days.
In 1 Samuel 17, Israel was at war with the vicious and war-hardened Philistines. They were at a standoff in the Valley of Elah with Israel on the mountains on one side and the Philistines on the mountains on the other. The Philistines made a proposal. They would send their best warrior, a giant named Goliath, and he would battle any Israelite. The winner would seal victory for his army. Day after day, he came out waiting for a challenger. Day after day, the Israelites cowered in fear. This went on for 40 days.
Then young David entered into the picture. He was too young to be in the army, but his three oldest brothers were. Occasionally he would bring food to his brothers, and this was one time when he was doing just that. When he witnessed Goliath’s challenge and the Israelites’ fearful response, he volunteered to battle the giant. He knew that God wanted victory for His people, and he knew that God would provide a way. His words in v.37 confirm this: “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
With the permission of king Saul and with a complete trust in God, he went forth to the battle. But first he put a stone in his hand. In fact, he picked up five stones (v.40, likely this was because Goliath had four brothers and he thought he might have to fight them also). When the confrontation ensued, David said to Goliath, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand” (v.45-46). In essence, David said, “You have formidable weapons indeed, but my weapon is God!” David then took one of the stones in his hand, placed it in a sling and felled the giant with one blow (v.49).
Now, here’s my point. David fully trusted in God, but he still put a stone in his hand and did his part. That is what true trust is – relying upon God, but still doing what you are supposed to do. As the old saying states, “Do your best and trust God for the rest.” Do you trust God with a stone in your hand?
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Our Lives From GOD’S View ~Dave Grant, Arthur, IL Church of Christ~
Have you looked at the back of a tapestry or needlepoint? Usually, there’s a tangled-looking mess of threads of many different colors going in many different directions. But if you turn it over, the design has purpose and beauty.
Our lives can be compared to a needlepoint in which the many different circumstances and directions look like there is no design, rhyme or reason. Many times we are unable to see how all those different things can be woven together to create a beautiful picture. I think that is because we are looking at the underside of the picture. God is looking down at how it all works out in creating something good.
“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.” ( Romans 8:28).
Notice the Word says, “in all things God works,” which would include all the distractions and circumstances, both good and bad that we encounter in this life. God works it for good—not He makes it all good. He weaves together all our struggles, challenges and victories to accomplish His purpose. That’s where we get the beautiful picture of our lives from a jumbled mess of threads and colors—God works it out!
His purpose is that we be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. Now that’s a beautiful picture! We may look at our lives and say, “No way!” But God looks at our lives and starts weaving and working it all out for good, and He sees Jesus!
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