“3 Lessons from David’s Fight with Goliath,” For the Strength of Youth, June 2022.
Come, Follow Me
3 Lessons from David’s Fight with Goliath
We all have “Goliaths” to face. We can defeat them with the Lord’s help.
Illustrations by Alex Nabaum
The Israelites were in trouble. Big trouble.
The armies of the Philistines had gathered to battle the Israelites. One morning, a giant warrior named Goliath came forward to taunt the Israelites. He challenged them to fight him. When the Israelites heard Goliath’s shouts, they “were dismayed, and greatly afraid” (1 Samuel 17:11).
No wonder—Goliath was huge! The Bible says that he was almost 10 feet (3 m) tall. He also wore a large brass helmet and heavy armor. He had an enormous shield, spear, and sword. (See 1 Samuel 17:4–7.)
For 40 days, Goliath challenged them to fight. No one had the courage to face him.
Until a young boy named David came along.
David arrived at the Israelites’ camp to deliver supplies when he heard Goliath’s shouts. He was surprised to see soldiers flee in terror. When it became clear that everyone was too afraid to fight, David volunteered to face Goliath.
David was told that there was no way he could defeat Goliath—he was too young. Yet he knew something they didn’t: his strength came not from his body, but from his God.
Facing Your Goliaths
In our lives, we face “Goliaths” too. The Goliaths we face can be any number of trials, challenges, and temptations. Here are three truths David knew that helped him defeat his Goliath. And they can help you defeat yours too.
1 The Lord Will Be with You
When everyone told David he couldn’t fight Goliath, David replied that he had already fought a lion and a bear to save his father’s sheep. David confidently declared, “The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37).
David knew that the Lord would be with him. With the Lord, we too can face our Goliaths with confidence.
2 Faith in God Brings Courage
David went to a nearby brook and found five smooth stones. He put the stones in his bag along with his sling. David then went to meet Goliath.
When Goliath saw David, he made fun of David’s young age. He cursed and threatened him. David, however, was unimpressed and unafraid. He said, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel” (1 Samuel 17:45).
President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency, has taught: “David had a firm faith in the God of Israel, and that faith gave him great courage. …
“… At times all of us must stand against those who mock and revile. Some of us, sometime, will face some earthly power as mighty as Goliath. When that happens, we should emulate the courage of David, who was mighty because he had faith and he went forth in a righteous cause in the name of the Lord of Hosts.”1
Faith can also help you face your fears with courage.
3 With God, You Can Do the Impossible
You probably already know what happened next. David pulled a stone from his bag and put it in his sling. He flung the stone, and it struck Goliath’s forehead. Goliath fell. When the Philistines saw their champion defeated, they fled for their lives.
Before this fight, most people would’ve said David didn’t stand a chance. But David showed that “with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37).
As President Russell M. Nelson has said, when you are facing your own Goliaths, “you are entitled through your worthiness to receive revelation to help you with your righteous endeavors. You may take upon you the name of the Lord. You may pray in His holy name. … Your prayerful access to help is just as real as it was when David battled his Goliath.”2
With God’s help, you can stand your ground with faith and be triumphant.