5 smooth stones

"Then David took his shepherd's staff, selected five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in the pocket of his shepherd's pack, and with his sling in his hand approached Goliath."
1 Samuel 17:40 (The Message)

David comes across as fearless. Almost cocky and arrogant. But with an arrogance based on his faith in God.

"Come on," said Goliath. "I'll make roadkill of you for the buzzards. I'll turn you into a tasty morsel for the field mice."

David answered, "You come at me with sword and spear and battle-ax. I come at you in the name of God-of-the-Angel-Armies, the God of Israel's troops, whom you curse and mock. This very day God is handing you over to me. I'm about to kill you, cut off your head, and serve up your body and the bodies of your Philistine buddies to the crows and coyotes. The whole earth will know that there's an extraordinary God in Israel. And everyone gathered here will learn that God doesn't save by means of sword or spear. The battle belongs to God—he's handing you to us on a platter!" (vs. 44-47)

I've been thinking a lot about fear lately. Fear can paralyse us. Literally, but spiritually, emotionally, relationally. It can stop us moving.

• My fear of being alone stops me from doing things that might satisfy me WITHOUT a partner.
• My fear of being not good enough keeps me from striving for more in my job. Or striving for another job.
• My fear stops me from travelling on my own, experiencing new things.
• My fear of rejection stops me telling people how I really feel.

I'm leading a meditate worship session this weekend. Thinking about fear. Thinking about the fact that we have God Almighty behind us.

David leant down and selected 5 smooth stones. And one of those stones killed dead the fear that had been terrorising Israelites. Just one. Because David had faith in God.

Was he scared? We don't know. But fear is not bad. Fear stops us being reckless. But we have to move despite our fear. Because "God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7) God wants us to step out of the boat, onto the water. But when He calls. Not because we think we can.

I'm looking at the possibility of going to work in India later this year, for a few months. If it's the right thing. I shall submit my application over the weekend.

Now THAT'S scary!