Scripture:
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)
“For the battle is the LORD’S.”1 Samuel 17:47 (KJV)
Observation:
Have you noticed the warning on your car’s side mirror? “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.”
The mirror gives you a view of what’s behind you, but the warning reminds you that what you see can be misleading. A car may look farther away than it really is. If you rely only on how it appears, you can easily misjudge the distance.
Our circumstances can be like that, too. What we see is real, but it doesn’t reveal everything God is doing. Sometimes the very thing that looks impossible becomes the place where we discover His faithfulness.
In 1 Samuel 17, David faced Goliath, a giant who had terrified Israel’s army. The outcome seemed obvious:
After all, Goliath was an experienced warrior, while David was a young shepherd with only a sling and stones. To everyone watching, David appeared to be outmatched.
Even Goliath looked at David and immediately dismissed him. But David saw what others missed—the battle belonged to the Lord. He remembered how God had helped him before and trusted Him to be faithful again.
Just as Ben reminded us on Sunday, David didn’t deny Goliath’s size; he trusted that the giant was no match for God. What looked like an impossible battle became an opportunity for God’s power to be displayed.
Application:
How often do we let what we see determine what we believe? Your situation may seem too large, the answer too distant, or your strength insufficient. You may have looked at the circumstances from every angle and still can’t imagine how things could change. But like a car mirror, your view is limited.
Think about a baby learning to walk. A little one may move toward the edge of a couch, happily, unaware of the danger of falling. They keep taking steps, while the parent nearby watches carefully, ready to reach out and keep them safe.
We aren’t called to ignore danger or act without wisdom. But that picture can remind us that we have a Father who sees what we cannot. We may not understand everything ahead of us, yet we can trust Him to guide us as we take each next step.
Walking by faith means trusting God’s Word when circumstances suggest otherwise and taking the next step even when you cannot see the whole path. It means bringing your fears to God and choosing to obey Him, even when what He asks requires courage.
Faith doesn’t deny the giant; it remembers who God is while facing it. David moved forward with confidence because his trust was in the Lord, not in what the battle looked like to everyone else.
Every battle may not end as quickly as we want or in the ways we expect, but God remains sovereign and faithful. Through Christ, the battle has been won, and victory is secure. What we see today is not the whole story.
When you face a giant, look beyond appearances and fix your faith on the God who is with you. Even when you cannot see the way, you can trust the One who does.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for seeing beyond what I can see. When my circumstances are overwhelming, remind me that You are greater than anything before me. Help me walk by faith rather than fear, and give me courage to trust and obey You even when I cannot see how the battle will unfold. Remind me of Your faithfulness in the past, and help me trust You with what is before me today. Keep my eyes fixed on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.