When I was in law school, I wasn’t ready for a new way of taking exams, and I did not do well on them in my first semester. Fortunately, a professor reached out and helped me learn how to take law school exams so I could change my preparation going forward. I changed my study habits and my writing style during the semester, so I would be more substantively prepared. I also changed my pre-exam ritual. As an athlete, I am slightly superstitious as anyone who has ever worn the same socks during a streak will understand. My pre-exam ritual was changed to fit my new process for exams. Each morning of an exam, I would go to a local restaurant and have a good breakfast. While I ate, I would read the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17: 1-54). Every morning of every exam. Same breakfast, same story.
For me, it wasn’t about the little guy beating the giant – a trite, surface reading of that story at best. No, for me the story was about David’s preparation and surrender. David states that he has been preparing to fight by putting his faith in God and going about his work (preparation) each day. David protected his sheep and served his family in his daily preparation. David showed up. Every day. So, when the bear, lion, or giant comes calling, David looks back on his prior experience as his resume and he shows up. He doesn’t need new weapons, he sticks with what he knows, and he goes out to confront Goliath. David shows up on the battlefield instead of the trusted and experienced warriors that surround him. David shows up and stands up to face the opponent. And when Goliath mocks God and mocks David, David surrenders the battle to God. “The Battle is the Lord’s.” This is not the only time that phrase is used in the Bible, yet, for me, sitting in my booth, fueling up on eggs and grits, that statement meant everything. David had experience, he had his preparation, he had a weapon that he knew well, and then he turns it all over to God. He relinquishes the outcome to God – The Battle is the Lord’s. That is surrender while still showing up for the fight. David surrenders the outcome to God. Putting everything he has on the line, and trusting God to sort out the results.
After David surrenders to God, he shows up and the Bible states that he RAN at Goliath. He ran. Can you imagine that in your mind? Small dude. No armor. Young. Up against a battle-tested giant, with armor, scars, and the deafening cries of his army urging Goliath to destroy David. David ran at him. Of course, the story ends with a fulfilling underdog success, which we are to take as God’s provision. But, I think the story is not really about the outcome at all. It is about showing up. The Battle is the Lord’s, but the warrior still has to show up. The warrior has to show up at work. The warrior has to show up for her kids. The warrior has to show up to care for her house. The warrior has to show up in a marriage that is difficult. The warrior has to take what she has in preparation, turn the outcome over to God, and show up. Prayer is necessary preparation, but you have to show up. Study is necessary for wisdom, but you have to show up. The Lord can only take over the battle, if you show up. Warriors show up.
