Don't Steal The Struggle, Embrace It: Be Built Different, Like David 💪
For most, especially us competitors, David defeating Goliath is one of our favorite Biblical stories. While we all use this underdog story as a source of motivation, if we do not get below the surface of this story we will never discover the sources of David's success and if we don't discover David's sources, we can't replicate his ultimate success.
When Goliath Wanted All The Smoke 🔥
Heading into his battle with Goliath, everyone, including those that appeared to be far more equipped and experienced than David were terrified and hopeless when Goliath popped out looking for and wanting all the smoke!
1 Samuel 17:4 (The Message): "A giant nearly ten feet tall stepped out from the Philistine line into the open, Goliath from Gath."
1 Samuel 17:11: "When Saul and his troops heard the Philistine's challenge, they were terrified and lost all hope."
Built Different: Running Through Struggles 😤
While men, far older and stronger than David ran and hid, David, not only went looking for the smoke that was looking for him, he was prepared to dominate it. He was prepared because he was built different, David was competitively mature and committed enough to not run from struggles, but run through them.
1 Samuel 17:34-37 (The Message): "I've been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I'd go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I'd grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no difference—I killed it. And I'll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. God, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine."
While the world around him was shook, David knew he could kill Goliath, because he had been killing lions and bears on the daily! Had he not been in the trenches getting it out of the mud prior to his battle, he would have folded like everyone else, but instead he did what no one else assumed was possible - overcoming the giant.
Don't Steal The Struggle 💯
You know what's wild, is if David was like many competitive athletes today, or his father, Jesse was like the parents of most of today's young competitive athletes David would have never dominated Goliath. The reason being, is most athletes and their parent's and support circles today steal the struggle.
As soon as they get:
Benched
Cut
Challenged
Drug on social media
Overlooked
They exit the struggle. They unjustly complain, get the coach fired, play the blame game, stop fighting for their dreams, or switch teams. When that's the case, they steal the struggle from themselves, not realizing that when the struggle is stolen, so too is the success, as in the case with David, the stage of struggle is the only thing capable of producing his unimaginable success.
Winning Thought to Consider 🏆
True success is not reached without first going through a stage of struggle. Since that's the case, don't allow your struggle to be stolen from you, instead embrace, prepare for and push past your struggles knowing it is the only road that will transport you to future success.
Overtime: Questions to Consider 🤔
Keep it a buck: Do you handle your struggles like David, or do you steal your struggles like many competitive athletes today?
Where in your journey are you in a struggle stage, and need to activate this verse, so your struggle does not become a distraction that sidetracks you, but instead, is something that you will push past as you stay locked in on the path God has you on? Before you answer, consider: Proverbs 4:25-27 (TPT): "Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life's distractions. Watch where you're going! Stick to the path of truth, and the road will be safe and smooth before you. Don't allow yourself to be sidetracked for even a moment or take the detour that leads to darkness."
Looking at your circle:
Who influences you to exit your struggles?
Who encourages you to push through them?
Who might be stealing your struggles (including yourself)? Remember: These people aren't necessarily negative influences, but you need to recognize their impact on your journey.
Reflecting on your past: What competitive regrets do you have from stealing your own struggles? What lessons can you apply moving forward?