02 -I CAN TAKE THIS FIGHT; I CAN WIN 2

 I CAN TAKE THIS FIGHT; I CAN WIN 2

When People Doubt Your Capabilities

Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth." 1 Sam 17:33NIV

That was King Saul expressing doubt on David’s ability to fight Goliath.

If we may ask, why do people express doubts about a person’s capabilities?

They may be sincerely concerned. That is what we see in the case of King Saul concerning the venture David wanted to undertake. This was a teenager who came to the battlefield to handover some meals to his elder brothers, and there was no proof that he had any prior training in military combat. To be candid, if David had failed in his bid and gotten killed, King Saul would have had a difficult time convincing his parents and the rest of the nation of Israel that he did not fail in his duty as a father.

To support the fact about his sincerity, the king even offered David his own amor and prayed for him before he stepped out. We are saying all these to support the fact that not all who express doubt on your capabilities hate you or have the intention to sabotage your progress. I often tell my children, if I express any doubt about your sincerity or ability to take care of yourself, it is because you have not convinced me you can handle things.

There are those who express doubt over your capabilities because they were blinded by jealousy. This is where the three brothers of David fall in.

When Eliab, David's oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, "Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the desert? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle." 1 Sam 17:28NIV

Unlike the king, he did not speak out of concern for David but weaponized his words to hurt him, “Look here David, do not think that because last time that Prophet Samuel anointed you as a future king over Isreal, that your status has changed from a good-for-nothing shepherd boy. You belong to the realms of animals and you have no business in a place like this. The most you can do is to sit around to watch real men fight in the army but I am not going to let you do that”.

Calling David names like wicked and conceited was only the expression of the hatred he had for him. His intention was to dampen whatever confidence he had left in him. It was targeted at sabotaging David.

Just like David did, once you find yourself in this kind of company, walk away. Do not try to convince them. There is nothing you could do to change their mind because they already decided never to agree with you or support you.

There are those who doubt your capabilities because they are ignorant of what God has put in you or working out in your life.

The Lord Jesus Christ had such an experience;

Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles! Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. Mark 6:1-3NIV

 They knew Him as a child and that familiarity was the cause of their doubt. Further reading in the bible showed that at another time, they welcomed Him. Even His immediate family expressed such doubt but all that changed towards the end of His earthly ministry.

The worst of all these doubting is when you doubt your own capabilities. Yes, there are many people who are stagnant today because they are not able to see what deposits they have existing in their person. We said earlier in this meditation that the first persuasion you need to persuade is yourself.

David faced every level of external doubting we have mentioned in this meditation but he remained internally motivated. When the King expressed his concern for David’s safety, this was David’s response,

Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you." 1 Sam 17:36-37NIV

He walked away from his offensive brothers, he walked away from the other soldiers who kept talking about the problem and the reward courageous men would receive if they solved the problem and finally, he boldly proclaimed his conviction before the king. It was the confidence he expressed before the king and the proven testimonies (or should we say, credentials?), that convinced the king.

Even though he turned down the king’s amor on the grounds that he was not used to them, we can see that the king would have given him anything else if he asked for it. Yes, when we complain that people do not support our projects, perhaps it is because we failed to convince them that we know what we are going for.

Having said all that and having stressed the internal confidence and faith that David expressed, we also need to make it plane that confidence should not be vague and faith should be built on something or someone. David was not just a courageous person but his courage was based on his relationship with God and the several instances that his God had proven faithful. If you read through our text chapter, you will observe the several points he referred to his God before King Saul and in his confrontation with Goliath. His faith and confidence were built on his God.

So, my reader, on what have you been basing your confidence? Can you boldly say that your relationship with God is solid and you are sure that this God will stand where you stand?

 This year is coming to end and we are stepping into a brand-new year. Perhaps, you should take a sobber reflection and reevaluate your past walk with God. However, if you are sure that your walk with God has been on the positive side, I encourage you to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.

 The remaining days in this year could be your miracle season.

You can still end the year in jubilation.

I would love to hear what you think about this message.

Emma your brother pnurnigeria@gmail.com