THE DOUBTERS

• DAY 170
• FAITH FILES: DAVID
• SCRIPTURE: 1 SAMUEL 17:31-36

Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”

The second challenge David faced came from King Saul. He represents a group of people I call the doubters. These people do not know your qualification for the assignment, so they will discourage you from venturing into it. The thing about doubters is that they are not as spiteful as the jealous bunch. some of them are actually concerned about your welfare.

David was a young man from nowhere, he only known to play music. Here he is proposing to fight a giant that has built a career in warfare. Any sane person will doubt him. Just like some family members doubted me when I said I would quit my job and go into full-time ministry as a single girl in her early 20s. That career part didn’t make sense to a lot of people. “how would you feed? They asked, “What would happen to your degrees?” Why not wait till you are married? These statements expressed their disbelief and doubt.

Doubters are silenced when they encounter your resume. They need proof of your abilities, either before or after. A doubter is easier to manage than a jealous person. If you prove your case with a doubter or if they see that you succeeded after all, they rest their case.

Grab Your Resume

David proved his case to Saul. He whipped out his resume from his time in the wilderness raising sheep. He said I know what I am doing. Goliath is no match for the bear I fought and the lion I tore in half with my bare hands. I see no threat here that I haven’t seen and conquered before. It is interesting that he understood that the bear and lion were preparations for a giant. most of us would have not made that connection.

Beloved, I know some people are doubting your capacity and that’s okay, they don’t know any better. But you do. You know how God brought you to where you are. Yesterday was only preparation for today’s assignment and you are already qualified for it. So do not let the doubters stop you. Remind yourself of your history and move in faith and courage.

To Do

Take a pen and paper and write out all that you have overcome. Beside it write what you are about to do. and thank God for preparing you for what is ahead of you. Take courage and move in the might of the Lord.

Shalom.