As Raindrops Fall...

"Keep me safe, O God, for in You I take refuge." (Psalm a6:1 NIV)

These simple words of prayer and need were offered by David, the mighty king of Israel. We all know the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:1-69), whether we be a slave to Christ or enslaved by sin. As raindrops fall from a cold, gray October sky, I can see giants on the horizon -- and I wonder, even in faith, if I have enough stones left in my pouch or if my aim will stay true at the moment of battle.

As a child, I can recall nightmares of giant shadow figures towering over me, capturing my heart in chains of fear, my screams of terror caught in a place that would not surrender them. As a man, I found out those giants were real, bearing the armor of addiction, pornography, selfishness, and pride. Unlike David, I was not ready for battle, absent of faith, and ran in fear, only to end up captured by the Enemy.

As raindrops fall, I sense the tears of God for all the times He stood waiting to forgive me -- only to turn from the rebellion and sin I chose instead to embrace. O, what grace He has given to me! As the fall winds blow, as the leaves die and tumble to the ground, and as I grow older, I long for times lost and desire times to be. Yet, as raindrops fall, I hear the call of the now, the voice of God's Spirit, telling me "Do not let go of My hand. I will lead you on."

On the horizon, the giants loom, ready to advance in battle against my heart. I have repented of drugs and pornography, so the giants of temptation rattle their swords and thunder their promises of pleasure into the winds of war. I am unemployed, homeless, and penniless, so the giants of shame, fear, and anger stand tall against the light of hope, their shadows an obstacle before my courage. I am a single man, so the giants of loneliness and sadness shield me from seeing my gifts and expend their power in focusing my heart onto what it longs for but does not have. And I am a Christian, a warrior for the Lord, so the armies of Satan, beasts without number, giants so tall as to block out the sun, assemble before me, their only intent being to crush me with sin and have me reject the salvation I received.

As raindrops fall, I want to give up, give in. I want to go back to sleep, hide from the world, be a glutton, chase laziness, worship lust, masturbate, get high, disengage from biblical community, turn my back on men I trust, curse the world for abandoning me, and pretend as if God doesn't care. "Do not let go of My hand."

So the raindrops fall. I await the sun. Let the raindrops fall. I long for the moon and the stars. And the raindrops fall...I am still a child of God, a man among men, not afraid of giants -- I've seen them fall before. "The LORD thunders at the head of His army; His forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey His command." (Joel 2:11 NIV)

I turn from the giants on the horizon. Behind me, I see the countless. I see my brothers in Christ. I see my Warrior brothers. I see my strength, my courage, my heart. And from behind me now, I hear His voice saying "I will lead you on."

I turn around, and He is glorified. He is the sun, He is the rain, He is the moon and the stars, and He is the Truth. I fear not the giants, for they cannot be seen past His glory. To war, men...to war!! I drop the stones and the sling as I raise my hands to the King. As raindrops fall, so will the giants.