Do you ever wonder what purpose conflict can have in life? God may be using it to build your spiritual muscles!

When David was a shepherd boy protecting his father’s flock of sheep, he had to fight off lions and bears.

Despite the loneliness he must have felt in the distant pastures — far from human help — he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that God Almighty was with him! The Lord was building courage and faith in this youth.

All that preparation paid off when David brought food to his brothers on the battlefield. Goliath — a 9-foot-tall, battle-hardened Philistine warrior — insolently scorned and taunted the Israelite army, causing panic in the ranks.

But David responded out of faith, not fear!

He asked indignantly, “Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Sam. 17:26) Offering to fight Goliath, his brother mocked him and King Saul doubted him.

But David knew the same God who was with him in the past would be with him again. He declared, “The Lord who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!” (1 Sam. 17:37).

Steadied by his heart of faith, David took dead aim with his slingshot — and that evil giant came crashing down!

This is an excerpt from Pat Robertson’s teaching tapes, Releasing God’s Power. All Scripture is quoted from The Book.