Day 3

From the false security that I have what it takes…

Deliver me, Jesus

Sister Faustina Maria Pia begins today’s reflection with the story of David and Goliath.

I was going to start this post off of the question:

“What/who are your Goliaths?”

But then I realized… your Goliaths don’t really matter.

Sure, they matter in the moment. But there will always be new Goliaths around the corner. They change as you grow older, as you move from employer to employer, they are family and soured friendships, illness, financial problems, addiction, etc.  They also come from within due to our poor choices and sin.

So, if your Goliaths don’t matter, what does?

Focus on David.

Recall that King Saul allowed David to go to the front line to fight Goliath, but did so only after donning David with the kings own armor, helmet, and sword.

After a few steps, young David realized how cumbersome the kings gear was – he was not used to someone else’s battle armor and he remoned it.

Much better.

He was equipped to take down Goliath with 5 little stones and a slingshot… more importantly, courage, strength and faith. David needed nothing more.

One of my Goliaths is the lie that I’m not good enough. I used to try to live up to other’s expectations… which change depending on the circumstances or the people I’m surrounded by.

Ludicrous and impossible.

But I tried.

Years ago I was a successful business owner and worked full-time and the church. I was also homeschooling our girls, keeping house, and trying to be a loving wife & mother. Unsustainable.

I gave up my business and went where I felt God wanted me to be:  full-time ministry.

It wasn’t easy.

The internal fight was real, and another Goliath awoke. His name was pride. I haven’t slayed him yet. He and I continue to battle from time to time.

Back to the other issue – shedding the business not only lightened the load it allowed me to do what I do best – love and lead others to Christ (my family and my parish).

Like David, I removed what was not necessary to do the job that God planned for me. In that battle, I won victory for my family by letting go of the #bossbabe attitude and relied on God as much as I could at the time.

As I get older and my faith deepens the reality of my insignificance not only becomes clearer, it becomes necessary. God is stripping me of the desire to be everyone’s everything and instead allow them to see Christ who has already won our battle by donning the Cross and slaying the Goliath called death

Please pray for me as I pray for you.