A Sure Sign Your Faith Is Slipping

1 Sam. 17:37 - And David said, "The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."   NASU

• David and Goliath

 In the above passage, David is talking with King Saul about going out to fight Goliath. David was outraged by what he heard Goliath say to the Army of God. He makes it very clear God has delivered him before when he fought a lion and a bear.
 
He now proclaims very emphatically his belief in God and God will deliver him from Goliath.
 
I am pretty sure we all know the story's outcome. David goes out and he defeats Goliath, but it all started with David's faith in God's deliverance and protection. 

• David and King Saul

 1 Sam. 26.24 - Now behold, as your life was highly valued in my sight this day, so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord, and may He deliver me from all distress."

King Saul becomes jealous of David and tries unsuccessfully to kill him.
 
One night as David was being hunted by King Saul David sneaks into Saul's camp while the king was sleeping and stole his spear and water jug. Once he is safely outside the camp he yells and wakes up the king and his men.
 
He lets Saul know if he had wanted to he could have killed him minutes ago.
 
The reason David didn't kill the king was he highly valued his life. He finishes his communication with the king by saying, "…so may my life be highly valued in the sight of the Lord, and may He deliver me from all distress."
 
It has been years since David killed Goliath and he is still displaying his faith and trust in God here in his communication with king Saul when he says, "and may He (The Lord) deliver me from all distress."

• David and David

David is talking to himself in the passage below. He is preaching doom and gloom to himself. Woe is me. My life stinks. Saul is going to kill me.
 
1 Sam. 27:1 - Then David said to himself, "Now I will perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines. Saul then will despair of searching for me anymore in all the territory of Israel and I will escape from his hand."

Really! Are you kidding me? Is this the same David that went after Goliath, killed him because he knew God would deliver him, and now he is afraid of King Saul?
 
What is going on in David's life?
 
David was losing his trust in God's protection and starting to fear for the safety of his life. He had grown weary from the trials of life. He forgot God had Samuel anoint him as the next king after Saul.
 
This is a clear sign your faith is faltering when you are losing your trust in God's protection and you're forgetting His promises.
 
What is the solution to this problem?
 
The solution is doing what David did when going to fight Goliath remember what God has already done for you. David remembered the victories over the lion and the bear. David needed to remind himself of all the victories he had with God's help.
 
You and I must remember the victories God has already given us and He will deliver us as He has done in the past.
 
God is FAITHFUL. We must continue to read His Word and in so doing strengthen our faith.
 
Think About This:
 
God promises a safe landing but not a calm voyage.
 
Stay Pumped,

Gary A. Serago

Minister of God's Word