That legendary tale of David vs. Goliath is one we all may know and hopefully, if you've read the last few posts, will now know of. The battle was a key victory for the Israelites in ending a war that quite possibly could have put them into Philistine slavery. We know that David was victorious and we know that he was on the Lord's side. But what of our own battles? The outcome of our own, personal and individual Goliaths seem to loom in the distance and sit on a balance of uncertainty and confusion. The adversary is a master strategist who knows his playing field and knows our weaknesses. Allowing him to enter into our lives places a seemingly unconquerable foe, an advantage that on appearance we cannot overcome - our own Goliath.
President Thomas S. Monson adds further insight into these our own Goliaths:
"Well might we look carefully into our own lives and judge our courage, our faith. Is there a Goliath in your life? Is there one in mine? Does he stand squarely between you and your desired happiness? Your Goliath may not carry a sword or hurl a verbal challenge of insult that all may hear and force you to decision. He may not be ten feet tall, but he likely will appear equally as formidable, and his silent challenge may shame and embarrass.One man’s Goliath may be the stranglehold of a cigarette or perhaps an unquenchable thirst for alcohol. To another, her Goliath may be an unruly tongue or a selfish streak which causes her to spurn the poor and the downtrodden.
Envy, greed, fear, laziness, doubt, vice, pride, lust, selfishness, discouragement—all spell Goliath.
The giant you face will not diminish in size nor in power or strength by your vain hoping, wishing, or waiting for him to do so. Rather, he increases in power as his hold upon you tightens." - Thomas S. Monson
I declare, as a representative of Jesus Christ, along with the great Book of Mormon prophet, Alma the Younger, that "wickedness never was happiness" nor will it ever be (Alma 41:10). When we fall off of the beaten path, the one that Christ himself tread for us, we will find ourselves on foreign trails that we do not know. The path may seem easy at first, maybe even desired. However, venturing further down this unknown route will lead you to an unavoidable trap in the way and you'll find yourself stuck in quick sand that will consume you if you do not fight back. The extended hand of help out of that trap is and will be always there because of the sacrifice of the Charitable One, our Messiah and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Presuming that you take that hand of help, where to now? We must return to that straight and narrow path.
"And now, my beloved brethren ... I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Ne. 31:19-20)
Having been put placed on the path that leads us again into our Heavenly Father's presence, we "must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ" back towards the straight and narrow from which we came. We find though, from experience, that the paths leading back into the fold of Christ are now guarded, not by Heavenly angels but by Goliath's that may seem all but possible to defeat. But there is a way, David is proof of that and I stand as a witness to you that you will have the angels of Heaven on your side when you are doing all you can to choose what is right. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it.
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