Rocks and Shattered Glass

We often desire the smooth stones David used to slay Goliath. The confident walk to the brook, gently retrieving the smooth stones, throwing them with ease at our giant and watching him fall with a loud thunderous triumphant collapse. But what happens when those stones are not smooth? They feel more like rough, jagged rocks and shattered glass beat up by the lessons of life. Rocks and shattered glass not handled properly, will not only harm you, but those you encounter as well.

Talking with my mom, we were discussing how if we fail to take the lessons of life, learn from them, and use them to grow, we are destined to remain in anger, bitterness, and resentment. In this conversation, God revealed that in life we may be dealt jagged rocks and shattered pieces of glass, but it is up to us to determine what we are going to do with these jagged, delicate pieces.

When Life Happens

/What happens when life’s circumstances doesn’t allow for one to gingerly walk to the brook and retrieve the smooth stones? Instead, you are forced to frantically run toward  the brook and gather what you see, rocks and shattered pieces of glass?  Your objects may not be as smooth as David’s, but your strategy can be. More importantly, if used correctly, you too can triumph over your giant.

The Bible tells David’s journey of triumph over Goliath. He took five stones and use just one to slay Goliath.  David first gave word to the Goliath who he was and Whose he was.  They exchanged some trash talk before the battle even began. What I’m saying is, yes, David had the stones, but he was confident of his victory. 

I watched a depiction of the battle of David and Goliath a few months ago. In this depiction, David did not just run up, throw the sling and Goliath fell.  No, they fought. David took a few punches, received a few blows, fell, and continued in the fight because he was confident.  Essentially, we know the story, in the end David kills Goliath and goes on to be one of the greatest soldiers mentioned in the Bible. 

A couple of things that spoke to me while studying for this post were:

-though you may not have the smoothstones, you can surely win with your rocks and shattered glass!

-operating on the same principlesDavid utilized: strategic planning, confidence and perseverance you canyield the same results, victory!

Strategic Plan

Just as David did not haphazardly walk up to Goliath expecting a win, neither should you. You need a strategic plan, you need a Word! We must know exactly what we’re bringing to the battle! You must be armed and ready for battle, expecting the enemy to fight dirty; and prepared for just that kind of battle.

It will be a dirty, unfair, gritty battle because the enemy does not fight fair. He hits open wombs and he will kick you while you are down. He will tell you just how worthless you are and if not prepared, you will listen and adopt those words to be truth. When in fact, the battle is not yours and you are more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. You can do all things through Christ, which strengthens you. These are all Biblical truths, that we tend to forget in the midst of an unprepared battle. 

Confidence

How to win with rocks and shattered glass...know who you are! David stood confidently and declared to Goliath whom he was and exactly what he was planning to do to him. He didn’t cower down at Goliath’s size or at the size and the strength of the Philistine army. He stood boldly and told the enemy just who he was, I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied.  This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand and I will strike you down and cut off your head. (1 Samuel 17: 45-46)

David was confident in himself, and more importantly, confident in the God he served. Much to Goliath’s surprise, this was a fixed fight, the God of Heaven and earth had already fought and won the battle for Israel. What fights are you still fighting to no avail? Is it because you’re attempting to do it in your own strength? Are you failing to stand strong in your faith and declare the works of the Lord? (Psalms 118:17)

Identify how you have allowedthe rocks and shattered glass to delay your victory.

Perseverance

Perseverance is persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Giving up is the easy option. Throwing in the towel, the notion that “it is what is it,” has prevented us all at one time or another from continuing in opposition.  The enemy’s tactic really does not change; he knows that thing, YES, THAT THING, that will throw you continually off course. The thing is, with most of us, he does not have to try new tricks. We fall for the same old run of a mill trick and then here is the kicker, we are surprised when we are back at square one.

Perseverance is not, I repeat, is not doing the same thing and expecting different results. It is learning from past experiences and strategically devising a plan that is sure to yield victory! Perseverance is knowing that you may not be able to put all the pieces back together but there are shimmers of light that reflects giving glimpses of a hopeful future.  It is taking those rocks and shattered pieces of glass and learning how they can be used to your advantage.

I was watching a movie and received revelation regarding the shattered glass analogy. When something is broken, it implies that you may be able to put it back together. However, when it’s shattered, the pieces are too numerous to even attempt reconstruction. 

Praise break……….

If you allow the light into those shattered pieces, you will see countless reflections of what healing and deliverance look like. The light, of course is God, the Word, learning from defeat, and taking those moments and redefining what they mean. It wasn’t a loss; it was a lesson. Find another method, an opportunity to see how God works all things together for the good of those who love Him.

Gather What You Have

So the next time you think of those rocks and shattered pieces of glass, redefine what they mean. Know that we all have had to take a loss, a lesson, if you will. We all have had to gather broken pieces and place them gently and strategically back in our lives where we could see the light in the lesson. Where we could see small glimpses of hope, reflect from the pain of our past and use that to encourage others.

There are people connected to your lessons, to your deliverance, to your healing. Someone needs to see you triumph. Do not be discouraged that you were given rocks instead of smooth stones. Take your rocks and shattered pieces and throw baby, THROW! The thing is, rocks still hit! The shattered glass will still cut the enemy where he stands!

You just need perspective! Implementing strategic planning, declaration of who you are, and perseverance will help you take those jagged rocks and pieces of shattered glass and make a beautiful mosaic, symbolic of your trials and triumphs, the lessons that you learned that made you victorious!

Editor: Crystal L.J. Harris