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
I recently heard someone speaking about the challenges of life and something they said has stayed with me. They were talking about our human nature to avoid the hard things we face. Those who struggle with addiction often call it their demon, a word that acknowledges the power of it without fully naming what it actually is. Those who struggle with mental wellness often ignore it entirely, telling themselves it will get better on its own, that they just need to push through, that naming it would somehow make it more real than it already is.
Our culture has become remarkably skilled at avoiding the direct naming of the giants we face. And yet to face those giants, we have to call them what they are. Big. Scary. Real.
The text of 1 Samuel 17 does not allow us the comfort of vagueness.
The giant is not described in general terms. He is named. Goliath. Of Gath. His height is measured. His armor is catalogued. The weight of his spear is recorded. Every detail is specific and deliberate. And there is something deeply intentional in that specificity, because the things we refuse to name tend to grow larger in our imagination than they actually are in reality. An unnamed giant fills whatever space we give it.
When we call our addiction a demon rather than naming it plainly, it stays in the shadows where it is hardest to fight. When we tell ourselves our mental health struggle will pass on its own rather than acknowledging what we are actually dealing with, we deny ourselves the help that naming it could unlock. When we describe our grief as a season and our broken marriage as complicated and our financial collapse as a rough patch, we are giving the giant room to grow in the dark rather than bringing it into the light where it can actually be addressed.
David never pretended Goliath was not there. He did not minimize him or dismiss him or look away. He looked at him clearly, assessed what he was actually dealing with, and understood what was standing in front of him. The giant was named. The threat was real. And only from that honest starting point could anything be done about it.
There is a discipline in naming what you are actually facing. Not to dwell on it or give it authority it does not deserve. But because you cannot pray specifically about something you have only described in vague terms. You cannot trust God with something you have refused to bring into the light. You cannot strategize against something you will not acknowledge exists.
The first step in facing a giant is not courage. It is honesty.
What is the giant standing in front of you right now? Not the polite, softened version of it. The real name. The actual thing. The addiction. The depression. The broken relationship. The diagnosis. The financial ruin. The grief that has not lifted. The fear that has not let go.
Name it. Say it out loud before God. Bring it from the shadow into the light. You cannot face what you will not name. The giant in your life has a name. Say it. You cannot face what you will not acknowledge is there.
Another Well Ministries is supported by readers and listeners who believe in sharing Scripture-centered encouragement with people who need hope.
If you would like to help support this work, you can learn more at anotherwell.org/donate.
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.
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.
