A deacon once told me, “Davis, if I were as big as you, I’d go out into the woods and fight bears.” I responded, “Roy, they make little bears.”
I don’t know how big the bear was, but David was a young shepherd boy when he grabbed a bear by the beard. He said,
“I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it,” David told King Saul with matter-of-fact confidence. No boasting. No embellishment. Just simple truth: when danger came, he grabbled it by the beard.
We all have bears. Maybe yours wears the mask of financial worry, relationship struggles, or health concerns. These bears seem enormous, don’t they? They roar loudly enough to drown out everything else.
But here’s what David knew that we often forget: the same God who walked with him in the pasture walks with us in our problems. The God who strengthened David’s grip on that bear’s beard will strengthen our grip on faith when our bears come calling.
David didn’t face that bear alone, and neither do you. The God who shows up on Sunday morning doesn’t clock out on Monday. He’s in your workplace, your hospital room, your difficult conversation. He’s closer than your next breath, stronger than your biggest fear.
So when your bear comes prowling, remember David. Remember his God. Remember yours.
I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.