"Once again there was a battle between the Philistines and Israel. David went down with his men to fight against the Philistines, and he became exhausted. And Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him. Then David’s men swore to him, saying, 'Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.'" 2 Samuel 21:15-17 (NIV)
When did you face your biggest giant? Can you picture the memory in vivid colors and details?
For some of us, those recollections will never be erased from our hearts or minds. We faced immense pain, trauma, and physical anguish. We faced the giant so many times we'd rather not remember him.
But for others, our giant was more like a nagging fly, constantly circling our heads. Some days, we'd be able to fight off the anxiety, depression, or bad habits. We'd crack the code, kill the fly, and move on with our lives. And then, when we'd least expect it, the giant would pop back up, pestering us until we were forced to give it our attention.
Growing up, I faced big and small giants. There are parts of my adolescence that I never want to relive. And yet, sometimes, these parts come back, knocking on my door.
I believe King David was familiar with this feeling.
In 1 Samuel 17, we see that God chose David to kill and defeat Goliath, a huge Philistine who was causing trouble for God's people. Despite David's father and brothers' doubts, God used the most unlikely son to conquer Goliath and later become king of His people.
As a young man, David had to feel good about this moment. He was strong. He was anointed by the Lord. He knew how to fight His giants—with God's Word in one hand and obedience in the other. But flash forward to 2 Samuel 21.
Again, David goes out to fight a Philistine. This time, it's Ishbi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed 300 shekels and who was armed with a new sword. Like Goliath, Ishbi-Benob was a giant, but he was notably smaller than Goliath. The 300 shekels of bronze that he wore were half the weight of Goliath's spearhead. And yet, 2 Samuel 21 tells us that David grew weary.
Just as Ishbi-Benob is about to kill David, Abishai, son of Zeruiah, comes to the rescue. He kills the giant and tells David he shouldn't fight anymore. He's too weak, and they don't want Israel to be defeated.
Can you imagine how embarrassed David felt at this moment? He'd defeated Goliath but almost lost his life to Ishbi-Benob. A smaller giant. If it weren't for the warriors with him, he would've died.
And yet, this story encourages me.
There are times in our lives when we fight giants and defeat them once and for all. Like David, God gives us the strength to defeat them, and we overcome them. But we've also faced giants that come back no matter how hard we fight. By the fifteenth battle, we're worn, weary, and exhausted. We're no longer able to fight the battle alone. We need a team of warriors to stand and fight with us. We need a team to defeat the giant. And that's okay.
No matter what giants you're facing today, I want you to know that there's no shame in needing brothers and sisters in Christ to stand with you and fight for you. Like David, there may be some battles you can fight solo, and others when you need a team. Both can be used by God, and both are nothing to be ashamed of.
We all face giants. Not one is exempt. What matters is how we learn to fight. And together, we will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony. We will be overcome with His power, alive and active within us, and those He surrounds us with to help us fight our battles.
Let's pray:
Dear Jesus, we all know what it's like to face giants in this life. When we're being pressed down and defeated, remind us that we do not fight alone. Provide the people we need to fight for us, and encourage us that when the giant comes back, it's okay to be weary. Thank you for how you provide for us in our weaknesses. Amen.
Agape, Amber
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/wildpixel
Related Resource: Soft Words for Hard Days: A Conversation with Aundi Kolber
Some days feel heavy. Some moments leave us wondering how to keep going. If you’ve ever longed for encouragement amid life’s hardest moments, I have a special episode of The Love Offering for you. This week, I’m joined by therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber to discuss her latest book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. This beautiful collection of quotes, scriptures, prayers, and gentle exercises is designed to be a balm for your most tender places—a reminder that you are never alone on your journey to healing.
In our conversation, we explore:
✨ How to hold space for yourself and others in difficult seasons
✨ The power of compassionate words when life feels overwhelming
✨ Practical ways to embrace healing and take one more step forward
If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Thursday, 19 June 2025.
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