“Most of us can handle life’s normal challenges.
They annoy us, but when they appear,
we manage to keep going.
Yet when that one giant shows up, that changes everything.”
— Tony Evans
It is hard to have hope or see a way forward when disability and caregiving are complex. Life and relationships can be fragile. There can be huge battles on multiple fronts.
What is something you’re facing that feels like a “giant” problem, weight or worry?
I recently posed this question to a group of parents whose children (of all ages) live with disabilities. Their answers illustrate the staggering host of issues some families experience:
- Serious health or disability issues (e.g., seizures)
- Insurance or pharmacy issues threatening their financial stability
- Job loss
- Navigating government benefits (e.g., SSDI, unemployment, disability waiver programs)
- Marriage tension
- Grief
- Extreme sleep deprivation
- A “prodigal” child (e.g., a special sibling who is claiming space to process their own experience in the family impacted by disability and any related relational dynamics)
- A legal battle with the school system over their child’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan)
- Their own vulnerabilities to act out in stress, fatigue, pride, anger or fear
- Future plans (e.g,. their own aging, fears about what the future holds for them or their loved one)
- Guardianship/conservatorship
- Decisions with life/death, moral or ethical implications
A couple of years ago, we had a giant health scare with our dear Carly. Years of complex gastro-intestinal issues and mental health challenges so common among people with Angelman Syndrome got tangled into such a mess that her weight was plummeting out of control and no doctors knew what to try next. Even the Mayo Clinic and Angelman specialists had nothing to offer. We were utterly exhausted and scared.
Our ancestors knew something about giant problems. In fact, the Bible has a lot to say about some really significant challenges faced throughout the ages from battles for land to breaking through rooftops to access Jesus’ healing touch and waging war against temptations and sin.
Even the literal giants in history reveal some valuable lessons to encourage and offer us practical help.
Jonah was swallowed by a huge fish! First and second Samuel mention giant people too. Perhaps the most famous one is Goliath.Goliath was a giant who challenged Israel to send a soldier to fight him. David was the young shepherd who accepted his challenge. (You can read the whole story in 1 Samuel 17:1-58.)
“Sometimes God allows you to experience a bigger-than-life Goliath so you’ll experience our bigger-than-Goliath God.”
— Tony Evans
At first, Saul was hesitant to send a young boy into battle against the Philistine giant. But that young boy, who later became known as King David, objected.
1 SAMUEL 17:32-40
32 “Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”
33 “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”
34 But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, 35 I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. 36 I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! 37 The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!”
Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!”
38 Then Saul gave David his own armor—a bronze helmet and a coat of mail. 39 David put it on, strapped the sword over it, and took a step or two to see what it was like, for he had never worn such things before.
“I can’t go in these,” he protested to Saul. “I’m not used to them.” So David took them off again. 40 He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them into his shepherd’s bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd’s staff and sling, he started across the valley to fight the Philistine.
David did, in fact, defeat Goliath by throwing a stone from his sling and hitting Goliath in the forehead. He didn’t even use a sword. He actually used Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head. Subsequently, the entire Philistines army fled, pursued by the Israelites.
41 Goliath walked out toward David with his shield bearer ahead of him, 42 sneering in contempt at this ruddy-faced boy. 43 “Am I a dog,” he roared at David, “that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. 44 “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!” Goliath yelled.
45 David replied to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! 47 And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”
48 As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him. 49 Reaching into his shepherd’s bag and taking out a stone, he hurled it with his sling and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank in, and Goliath stumbled and fell face down on the ground.
50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword. 51 Then David ran over and pulled Goliath’s sword from its sheath. David used it to kill him and cut off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran.
Done. Gone. We’re outta here.
Oh, that we could take such confident and decisive action as David did when facing our own giants!
What can we learn from David when we are up against something big, heavy, intense or complicated as caregivers?
The same truths and tools that emboldened David can equip and encourage us.
- Our giants are beatable. It is important to be brave, courageous and filled with faith!
Goliath underestimated his opponent. Goliath thought he was fighting David but he was actually trying to do battle with God. David knew that no weapon formed against God would prosper. Our opponents and obstacles do not have the ultimate authority over us or our loved ones. No person or situation should be given authority to rob us of peace, kill our faith or steal our joy. We will be effective when we yield all authority to God and face our giants in Jesus’ name. It is to His name that people and circumstances will ultimately bow. - Our most powerful strategy involves paying attention to the unique strengths God has equipped us with, asking God to be our strength in weakness, and staying tuned in to the Holy Spirit’s guiding at each step along the way. Sometimes other people will urge us to “suit up” with armor and weapons that don’t fit us. Those things can end up being too heavy and render us ineffective. David paid attention to who he was — an anointed young boy who loved his God and had been equipped with some wonderful lived experience as a shepherd.
Back in that season when Carly was struggling so mightily, Larry and I felt like warriors losing a battle. Everything humankind could think of to try had been tried. Many days we held anger, doubt and hurt out to God, begging through tears for relief. The only things keeping us in the fight were our “mustard seeds” of faith and a few close relationships. Some days all we could do was tell that awful situation, “the Lord WILL conquer you!” We didn’t know how or when, and we often didn’t like God’s methods or timing. But God is ever faithful. We kept asking God to reassure us of that.
Jesus said, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) So we did. And then one day, momentum changed dramatically. All of a sudden, in ONE DAY, Carly rested like she hadn’t rested in her entire life. And new mercies of healing have been unfolding ever since. Sometimes winning doesn’t happen all at once. It’s quite a process.
Halleluia! And thank you, Jesus!
Friends, I understand you face some mighty intimidating giants. God is bigger.
I’d love to hear what truths and tactics have helped you or your family! Post yours in the comments below.
Lord God, you know exactly what giants I am facing and nothing it too difficult for you. Forgive me for self-reliance and pride. Make me Your faithful warrior. In the authority of the Holy Spirit and by the power of Jesus’ shed blood, bring my giant to its knees. Cause obstacles and enemies to stand down and flee. Help me love, serve and make decisions out of increasing confidence in your love for me, the unique strengths You created in me and a faith that keeps growing.
In case you need more encouragement that stepping out in faith and trusting God is equipping you for specific battles He calls you to fight, check out these verses too:
Lisa Jamieson is an author, speaker, special needs family advocate, and pastoral counselor. She is co-founder of Walk Right In Ministries where she trains and counsels family caregivers to walk abundantly in life, faith, and relationships. Lisa and her husband, Larry, live in Minnesota with the youngest of their three grown daughters, Carly, who has Angelman Syndrome.
Oh this is so good. One thing I finally learned to zero in on with David was his lonely-vigil preparation on the hillsides in the dead of night when the beasts would try to get to the flock. (Always seems to be worse at night!) David had many victories over them with nothing but the moon and stars for light, and recounted them for Saul as his training for facing Goliath. He didn’t need physical stature or strength – he had experience with defeating enemies using only his sling, God-given dead-eye aim, and enemies that left him alone as a result. Rehearsing past victories is powerful in building faith when we understand they are all from our merciful and gracious God. Even when the outcome is less than we’d hoped for, there are always smaller signs of His faithfulness in it.
Oh, that’s rich! Many family caregivers understand feeling rather alone in their battles. Thank you for sharing those insights and encouragement, Joy.