God is Bigger Than...My Circumstances

Introduction

Walking down the Hall with Matt Henderson and Tim Martin.

When we walk through life with the God of the Universe, who is Omnipotent, leading the way, we can have confidence even in the midst of trials and struggles. We can remain composed and confident because God is Bigger and He is Bigger Than our Circumstances!

1 Samuel 17:1–11 ESV

Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. And they were gathered at Socoh, which belongs to Judah, and encamped between Socoh and Azekah, in Ephes-dammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. And he had bronze armor on his legs, and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. And his shield-bearer went before him. He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.” And the Philistine said, “I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.

1 Samuel 17:32–37 ESV

And 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 but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

1 Samuel 17:41–50 ESV

And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, “Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.” Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.” When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.

1) Our Circumstances Can Be Overwhelming.

The Israelites gathered for battle because they thought they could handle the Philistines, but they didn’t know that the Philistines had a Goliath.

They were overwhelmed because they were staring down Goliath instead of looking up to God.

When your mind focuses on more details about the circumstances in front of you than the God who holds you, feeling overwhelmed in inevitable.

2) Our Confidence Can Be Unwavering.

Though the circumstance seemed dire, David’s focus was higher.

When we focus on God, we realize just how near us He is. (James 4:8)

Remember God’s faithfulness and how He has used past circumstances to prepare you for this moment.

Also know that He will use this moment to prepare you for future encounters where you need to trust Him.

The folks that are usually the most confident in God are the people who have been through some things.

It’s the times where we feel so small that we begin to realize, just how big God really is!

Overwhelming circumstances are not easy to face, but they are not impossible to face either, especially when our confidence is in the God who promises that the same power that rose Jesus from the grave is the same power that is alive in us today. (Romans 8:11)

3) Our God is Overcoming.

Don’t come at your circumstances in your own strength. Know that it is God’s strength that wins the day!

God Overcomes when we trust and act in Him.

There was no sword in David’s hand, but the Sword of the Word was in His heart.

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Closing

What circumstances are facing right now? Are you more attentive to the details of the impossible, or to trusting the One who is able to do all things?

Are you placing your confidence in God, no matter the circumstances? Are you drawing near to God and focusing on Him?

Are you relying on God’s strength or are you still relying on yourself to pull you through?