The Struggle Is Real!

Perhaps you recall the scene prior to David facing Goliath. The Philistine army stood on one hill across a valley opposite the Israelite army. Each army had a hero, but only the Philistine hero came into the valley.

Goliath stood more than nine feet tall, a giant among men. He approached the Israelites and taunted them. He called for their hero to engage in personal combat. His boast was if Israel’s hero killed him, they would serve Israel; but, if he was victorious, Israel would serve the Philistines.

Day after day, morning and evening, for forty days Goliath came out and taunted Israel; and day after day after day Israel sent no response. Their soldiers were afraid; even their hero, King Saul, was afraid. Forgetting God’s victories in the past, King Saul and his army were paralyzed by the intimidating giant. They reasoned correctly that no one was strong enough to win a battle against Goliath.

Surely King Saul wanted to face Goliath, but he could not overcome his fear. Surely there were other soldiers who wished they could face Goliath, but they also were defeated in their spirits. Knowing the certainty of Goliath’s strength Israel stood helpless, defeated, and miserable.

This scene accurately portrays the human struggle against sin. In Romans 7:15-19 the Apostle Paul described the sin that looms in our lives as a power that cannot be conquered by our own strength. Like Goliath, the guilt of sin taunts us morning and evening, day after day after day. The human struggle is the desire to do what is good and right, but being unable to accomplish it. In contrast, we end up doing the very things we do not want to do. Paul described our plight: “O wretched man that I am!”

The Greek term wretched carries the idea of total exhaustion from hard labor. Isn’t that descriptive of our plight? With great effort and strength of will we struggle to overcome sin. Yet, in the end, sin is the victor. Sin comes in the strength of Goliath.

When King Saul and his soldiers saw Goliath taunt them each morning and evening, they looked with fleshly eyes and saw a giant. They could not look beyond their own weakness for God’s help. So it is with sin. When we see sin as a giant that we cannot possibly conquer, we are right.

David, the young shepherd boy, had been victorious over both lion and bear. His victories were not by his own strength but with the strength of God. As he assessed Israel’s predicament, he reasoned by faith that God would give this heathen giant over to him just as he had given over the lion and the bear. David did not place his confidence in the solutions of man, that is, the soldier’s armor. He placed his faith in God alone.

When the guilt of sin looms over us like a giant, do we numb ourselves with drugs (illegal or prescription)? Do we attempt to soothe our demons with our music or games or entertainment? Do we hide behind duty in our career? Do we escape through yet another vacation or weekend getaway?

Or, do we stand in the strength of the Lord placing our faith in his promises, trusting in His strength to overcome?

The human struggle against sin is felt by those who are in Christ. And yet, the struggle must be met on God’s terms, not with our own strength:

Be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might. 

--Ephesians 6:10

How do we do this? How do we find the strength of the Lord? Remember, He has given us His Spirit in which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

Mark Stinnett

April 27, 2025

Your Object of Faith

Now Faith is...
concerning things expected...reality,
concerning things not seen...confidence.
(Personal rewording of Hebrews 11:1)

We look to the future. Yet even scientific discoveries, statistical analysis, and historical research leave many questions unanswered. There are problems needing resolution. There are deep needs that yearn for fulfillment. We often feel a void of uncertainty.

What is it that offers hope? What is it that offers the possibility, or better yet, a true expectation of filling the void or solving the problem? What is it that provides the confidence that tomorrow’s uncertainties will be manageable?

What is that unseen force, power, or being that gives you strength of confidence and a real expectation that with it, you can face tomorrow; you can overcome life’s uncertainties, your needs will be met?

Do you expect financial success to provide?
A higher paying job, a more lucrative investment, a bigger or better deal?

Do you expect career to provide?
A step up on the career ladder, more authority at work, your own business, career success?

Do you expect physical strength or beauty to provide?
A quest for health and a longer life, pursuit of strength that cannot be overcome, pursuit of beauty to charm and sway the hearts of men?

Do you expect knowledge to provide?
A greater knowledge and a deeper wisdom to outthink and outwit and outlast life’s competitors?

Do you expect the relationship of family, friends, or associates to provide?
The acceptance and tolerance of friends and family; a relationship with someone of importance, someone of wealth, someone of power?

Men have pursued these and other things to provide confidence and hope to meet the challenges of life’s uncertainties.
And yet...
If financial success is that which provides hope and confidence...wealth is your god.
If position or fame is that which provides hope and confidence...success or power is your god.
If physical strength or beauty is that which provides hope and confidence...your body is your god.
If knowledge and wisdom are that which provide hope and confidence...intellect is your god.

To what or to whom do you turn when conflicts arise in your life? When uncertainties and needs arise, who or what first comes to your mind? Who or what stands foremost in your mind as the reality that can bring about needed changes to solve your problems and fill your needs?

Or, do you, perhaps, simply trust in yourself??

The object in which you place your faith, that which, though perhaps unseen, stands as the reality in your life on which you depend for answers… that is your god/God!

I am the Lord your God...

You shall have no other gods before Me.

--Exodus 20:2-3

Mark Stinnett

July 21, 2024

Never Shaken

Have you ever experienced an earthquake so that you lost your footing? Have you ever lost your footing on a steep incline and actually fallen off the path? Have you ever tripped on a staircase with nothing to grab hold of? These are images of what the Psalmist calls shaken. Being shaken is the idea that you have lost your footing but there is nothing to help you keep or regain your balance...so you fall!

Of course, the Psalmist is not talking about literal earthquakes and tripping. Rather, he has in mind those events in life in which we are shaken to the point of near catastrophe spiritually. It may be that our faith is weak and we wonder if God will help, or we wonder if God really cares, or we just no longer see the use in trying.

God never promised that there will be no earthquakes in life. He does not guarantee that the path of life will always be smooth, wide and even. He does not assure us that there will be no obstacles, no enemies, and no temptations. However, he does promise that we will not be shaken. In fact, to the righteous his promise is greater:

He who does these things will never be shaken.

—Psalm 15:5

The literal Hebrew text reads, “He will not be shaken, forever.”

While it is true that God will extend his hand to help us when we fall, He is also the one who can make us surefooted so that we do not fall at all. It may seem to be an unattainable ideal, but the Psalmist assures us that God will help us so that we are never shaken, so that we never fall.

So, how is it that we can have this kind of surefooted assurance in our lives?

• It is because the Lord is my counsel; he is always in my thoughts; he is next to me. (Psalm 16:7-8)
• It is because of the continual love of the Lord for me and my trust in Him. (Psalm 21:7)
• It is because God is my strength, my rest, and my salvation. (Psalm 62:6-8)
• It is because God’s attention is trained toward the righteous. My righteousness does not keep me from stumbling, but God remembers his righteous ones, and he will make them surefooted. (Psalms 15:5; 55:22 and 112:6)

In the first Psalm David declared blessings from God for the one who avoids the path of sin and evil. He declared blessings from God for the one who meditates on the instruction of the Lord.

He is like a tree

   planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in season

   And whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

—Psalm 1:3

We each need to be that deep-rooted tree that withstands the storms of life year after year. To have such strength we must, send our roots deep into the refreshing word of God...

...Learning the value of trusting in the Lord;

...Gaining confidence in his strength;

...Experiencing his kindness, his rest, his salvation; and

...Growing in His righteousness.

Then when the storms and earthquakes of life occur,

          We will NOT BE SHAKEN…

                                                           FOREVER!

Mark Stinnett

May 19, 2024