And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. — 1 Samuel 17:4
There are many times in life when things seem to be going well. Sure, life has its normal ups and downs. But perhaps you find yourself in a nice rhythm. The downs are manageable. The challenges are the kind you have faced before and know how to navigate. Things are not perfect but they are steady. And then suddenly, without warning, something appears that you could have never imagined. A sickness. A sorrow. A heartache so heavy you would not wish it on anyone, even your worst enemy.
And just like that, you are standing in front of a giant.
The story of David and Goliath is one of the most well known in all of Scripture. Most people who grew up in church can tell you the basic outline. A young shepherd boy. A massive warrior. Five smooth stones. One well-aimed throw. The giant falls. But before any of that happens, the giant simply appears.
Goliath is described in specific and deliberate detail. His height. His armor. The weight of his spear. The text wants us to feel the size of him. Not because the writer wanted to discourage us but because the point is not that Goliath was undefeatable. The point is that he looked undefeatable. And looking undefeatable is often enough to stop an entire army before the first stone is ever thrown.
That is exactly how the giants of life work. They do not always have to win the fight. They simply have to show up large enough that the fight never begins. The medical report arrives and suddenly the future looks impossibly uncertain. The relationship fractures in a way that seems beyond repair. The financial pressure builds to a point where the way forward is completely unclear. The grief lands with a weight that no one around you seems to fully understand. These are the giants of real life. And they are not small.
As we explore facing the giants, we are not going to minimize what you are facing. There will not be easy answers to hard situations or suggestions that a simple shift in perspective will make the giant disappear. The giants of life are real. They are large. And they deserve to be taken seriously. But they are not the end of the story.
David did not defeat Goliath by pretending he was not there. He defeated him by understanding something about the God standing behind him that Goliath could not see. And over the coming devotionals we are going to walk through that story together, not as ancient history, but as a living, breathing map for the giant you are standing in front of right now.
Whatever has shown up in your life that you could have never imagined. Whatever has stopped you in your tracks and made the path forward feel impossible. Whatever giant is standing in the valley between where you are and where God is calling you to go.
This series is for you. The giant has appeared. But the story is not over. And the God who stood with a shepherd boy in the valley of Elah is the same God standing with you today.
These devotionals are written to encourage, challenge, and support you in your walk with God. If they are meaningful to you, you can subscribe and receive them by email.
If you’re looking for additional resources to continue your time with God, you can find our books and reading plans available at anotherwell.org/books. These devotionals are designed to help you slow down, reflect deeply, and stay rooted in God’s Word throughout your day.
About Another Well Ministries
Another Well Ministries exists to help people slow down, listen deeply, and encounter God in the ordinary places of life. Through devotionals, reflections, and spiritual resources, we seek to create space for faith to be formed with honesty, grace, and hope.
To learn more about the heart of the ministry or explore additional resources, visit anotherwell.org.
