#The Reflex of Faith
I’ve been reading the stories of specific characters in the Bible, and for the first quarter of this year, I’ve been studying the life of King David. Below is an entry I wrote on 1 Samuel 23 that I felt compelled to share. I encourage you to read the chapter (or even from 1 Samuel 16 onwards), as I will be making references from earlier chapters.
The life of David fascinates me.
In 1 Samuel 23, the Philistines were attacking a town near David, and David consulted God for direction. God told him to defend the town; however, his men are afraid. David again goes to God to confirm that God would go with him. God’s response is the same, so David proceeded and was successful.
What I found interesting was severalfold:
Firstly, He sought direction.
Let’s bring context to where David was at this point in his life. David was on the run from King Saul, a man he loved as a father and served diligently, who, out of jealousy and fear, sought to kill him. While Saul had no knowledge that David had been ordained to be the next King, he recognised that the hand of God was upon David - perhaps because he sensed the scent of God’s presence as it was once familiar to him.
So here is David, betrayed, isolated, fleeing for his life, and suddenly a leader responsible for the lives of those around him, navigating unfamiliar territories, and making decisions that carried life-or-death consequences.
Really visualise it.
Imagine the intensity of the pressure he may have felt as he suddenly found himself dealing with matters of survival, leadership, and responsibility. Yet rather than relying solely on his own judgement, David chose to consult God first. David’s wisdom in seeking God before engaging in battle highlights not only his dependence on God but also the depth of the relationship they shared.
One thing I’ve learnt is that we show our true nature under pressure. Pressure reveals what is planted in our hearts. It reveals where our trust lies, in God or in ourselves. David’s response in this moment flowed from the foundation he had already built with God. He had made God the compass guiding his decisions long before the crisis arrived.
The second thing I noticed was that the answer was immediate.
At a time when people often burned sacrifices or relied on priests to enquire on their behalf, David had direct access to God’s presence. He did not have time to fast or retreat for days in preparation. He asked, and the answer came. This highlights the intimacy David had cultivated with God over time.
It was built while David was a shepherd boy tending sheep. It was built while he was protecting his flock from lions and bears. It was in those hidden seasons that he encountered different facets of God - as a deliverer, protector, comforter, friend, and companion. This doesn’t mean that David lacked human emotions like fear, discouragement, anger, or grief. Rather, there was a beautiful dance that David had with his emotions and his belief in God. Both were honestly expressed before God.
David would say things like,
“The Lord is my light and salvation, so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?” (Ps. 27:1)
Do you see it? There was first a reminder of who God was to him, and then an acknowledgement of a very real emotion - fear. His response revealed what he knew about God. David knew God as a fortress around him; therefore, he challenged his fear. Because he knew God to be consistent in nature and character, he could trust Him in the present moment. That’s why at the end of Ps 27, David writes:
“Yet, I am confident I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be strong and courageous. Yet, wait patiently for the Lord.” (Ps. 27: 13-14)
I propose that faith is simple. It is truth revealed, and truth understood - but it must also be continually practised. One way to strengthen faith is through remembrance: reflecting on your miracles, your answered prayers, and asking yourself, “What does this moment reveal to me about who God is?” If he protected you before, and if His nature doesn’t change, why can’t the same expectation of protection be carried to the next season?
Faith is not measured in quantity, but quality. The bible famously says, it only has to be the size of a mustard seed. It is not the size of your faith that matters, but the strength and endurance of it. It is the strength of your faith that moves mountains. “Work out” your faith as you would in the gym. Remind yourself in each chapter who God has been to you. Reflect on the miracles He has done, the prayers He has answered, and the ways He has sustained you. Let remembrance become your response in seasons of tension. What we repeatedly remember about God becomes what steadies us under pressure.
Until next time,
