It would be really silly to ask anyone if they have ever gotten into trouble… Naughty or not, intentional or accidental, something or the other would have crossed our path. Few times we got lucky enough to slide out of it while in most cases we have struggled!!! There are also such problems where we do not have much control over them. They lead us into sleepless nights and leave us feeling helpless, not knowing what to do or where to find help… How to handle such times of desperation?
Let us look in the treasure book
OPENING THE TREASURE BOOK 
Clue 1: Where to look for Help?
I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
Psalms 121:1-2
God is our refuge and strength,
Psalms 46:1
A very present help in trouble.
During times of trouble, where should we look for help? Our help comes from God – the maker of heaven and earth!!! God is an ever present help during times of trouble. He is always there!!! So we should take refuge in him. He is our DELIVERER!!!
Clue 2 : 1 Samuel 17 –
What to Do?
There was a war between Israel and Philistine during the time of King SAUL, the king of Israel. In the Philistine army, there was a champion named Goliath who was very tall (approx. 9 feet and 9 inches) and mighty!!! Goliath would stand in front of the camp and shout in loud voice to the Israelites.
“Choose a man and let him come to me. If he is able to fight me and kill me then we will be your servants, otherwise you will serve us”
Everyone in the Israelite army was greatly distressed and afraid of him. Even king Saul!!! No one dared to accept Goliath’s challenge! They all tried to HIDE from the trouble. This was a tough time for Israel, a time when even the King did not know what to do! The trouble that came their way was HUMONGOUS!!!
During this time, there was a young shepherd named David, who lived in Bethlehem with his father and brothers. Three of his elder brothers were soldiers in the Israeli army. When David came to meet his brothers at the army camp, he heard the shouts of Goliath and saw all people were terrified of Goliath.
David chose to FACE the problem!
He went to King Saul and told him. “I will fight this giant and kill him”. But King Saul said “How can you fight him? You are very young!!! Goliath is a mighty man”.
But David answered:
When I used to take care of my father’s sheep, if a lion or a bear came and took a lamb, I have caught it and killed it. The Lord who delivered me from the lion and the bear will deliver me from the hands of this giant also.
Saul agreed and clothed David with his own armor (Armor is a war outfit that protects our body from being injured). But David was not comfortable, so he removed the armor. He went to the nearby brook and took five smooth stones.
David believed God will deliver him!!!
Goliath wore an armor – helmet, breastplate, leg covering and he had a shield bearer carrying his shield; Also he had weapons – spear, javelin, sword!! He was well protected and equipped for a battle! David on the other hand, did not wear any armor. The stones he took from the brook and his sling were the only weapons he had.
David trusted in God and not in the weapons or the armor . He went against Goliath in the name of the Lord!!
When Goliath saw David, he cursed David and charged to kill him. Everyone expected David would be soon dead!!! He was in deep danger!!!
David took a stone from his pouch and slung it at Goliath. The stone struck Goliath on his forehead and he fell down and died. The GIANT, the CHAMPION, the MIGHTY Goliath died before he could even begin the fight!!!
David defeated the Philistine army and won the battle for Israel!! He accomplished what the rest of the trained army or even the king himself couldn’t do.
DAVID came out VICTORIOUS!!!
The SIZE of the enemy or his SHOUTS did not terrify David unlike others. He knew God is bigger and stronger than the enemy and is able to deliver him from all kinds of trouble. He was confident that the Lord who delivered him from the lion and bear will also deliver him from the hands of Goliath. He trusted God completely!!!
Treasures uncovered
During times of trouble,
God is our HELPER and our DELIVERER
God is Bigger than all troubles, so TRUST HIM completely, take REFUGE in HIM & FACE the trouble in the NAME of THE LORD
Prayer:
Father we thank you for revealing to us that you are our deliverer and you are able to deliver us from all trouble no matter how terrifying it looks. You are bigger and stronger than all our problems and troubles.. Help us to trust you completely and take refuge in you during times of trouble… In Jesus name Amen!!!
Bible lessons 4 young Christians 