1 Samuel 17:38-40
And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.  And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.  And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

We can’t try to be someone we are not.  David was a shepherd, not yet the mighty man of battle he would become, and he would have never won this battle with Saul’s sword and armor.  God made us all different, and He will use us as we are with what we have until we grow into what He wants us to become.  Eventually David would conquer his ten thousands.  He would grow adept at using the tools of war.  But for now, his best weapon was his familiar sling and his faith in his God.

Truly God was the real warrior that day.  David was just the willing vessel to stand up for God’s honor and glory.  David was the one willing to go forth with God’s strength upon him.  David was willing to be a weapon in the hand of God.  And can’t we do the same thing?  We just have to be willing to be used.  We just have to trust God.  We don’t have to have all the strength and ability within ourselves.  We don’t have to be bigger than the challenge we face.  And we don’t have to put on someone else’s armor in order to face the battle before us.

Our journey with God is a process, a progression, as long as we are willing to keep growing in Him.  And no matter what stage we are in, we can do things for God and He will be with us.  If we’re not ready for the sword, let’s just go out with our sling.  If we can’t bear up under the armor, let’s leave it behind and just use what we have.  We’ll get there eventually.  And then we’ll keep growing and moving forward and accomplish whatever God has for us to do.

Are we willing to face down the giant that’s in front of us just now, however we may be able to come before it, simply because we know God is on our side?  Will we march forth for His honor into what looks like sure defeat because we know He is the one who will ultimately fight that battle for us?  Are we willing to start small where we are and grow into whatever God would have us to become in order to serve Him better as we keep going forward?  Let’s be encouraged by David’s example not to be someone we are not, but to become who God wants us to be.