Did you know that King David would never have received a participation ribbon? There wasn't a prize for second place or 20th or for coming-out to participate. It was either you won the battle and defeated your enemy or you lost and died or became a slave. He is one of the mighty men of history.
Mighty men of the days gone by
History is filled with many mighty men and women. People who have laid down their lives for a reason, a cause, for God or country and paid the ultimate sacrifice. I think one of the most impactful images are of the young men in boats waiting to jump out with their gun in hand, ready to storm the beaches of Normandy.
Knowing that they might never make it to their next meal, they did not back down. History tells us that they did storm the beach and many lost their lives but this was a turning point in the war and the West ended up winning.
Looking at the pages of scriptures you don't need to go far to see men like Daniel who knew that bowing down to pray to God could end his life (Daniel 6: 10). He did not back down in fear and give in to the pressure of the king. He knew that a heavenly king would know if he did or didn't pray to him. He swung open his doors and continued to pray like he always had, willing laying down his life for his God.
How about mighty women like Queen Ester (Ester chapter 4 verses 15-17) who, for the sake of her people, had to go before the king (which was punishable by death if you appeared before him uninvited even if you were his wife). But though she was scared she knew the lives of millions of people rested in her hands. She called the people to pray and fast for a few days then she would go before the king. She risked everything to save her people.
Where are all the mighty people today??
Now fast forward to the year 2016 and what do we have? We have a generation of people who have been spoiled, who have been given everything, who have not had to work hard, who have become sissy's, for a lack of a better word.
You look around and the next generation is not leading the way but are bringing their parents to job interviews with them, or having mum write your test for you. Universities were offering grievance counselling after the American election and even cancelled tests to give their students time to cope with the fact that Trump won the election.
It wasn't that they were so overcome with grief that the Lord had left and they tore their clothes and put on sackcloth's and ashes. They threw a pity party and burned down buildings.
How can they become mighty men and women of God when we have created a monster of a child? My fear is that this generation is going to be future leaders and doctors and lawmakers of our nation and unless something changes we are in scary hands.
What are we do
I think we all have a lot to learn from King David and how he responded when faced with adversity. David was anointed king at a young age, yet it wasn't handed to him on a silver platter. He had to earn it by first becoming the man of God that God wanted him to be.
He went to live in the king's palace and did amazing feats for the King. He kills many in battle and is a real hero of the land. Then the king gets jealous of David's fame and decides to kill him. Did David back down and crawl into a ball on the counsellors lounge chair??
No, he went to God, he took it in prayer. He got up and ran for his life and even hid sometimes. He lived in a cave. He did not give up. He rose to the challenge and continued to lead men during this time and proved himself worthy of the calling. He did not let hardship stop him from becoming the king. He knew that he had to fight to survive. He had to run the race.
Perseverance
James chapter 1 versus 2-4 tells us to "consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
We need to stop coddling our youth. We (and I am just as guilty) make it too easy for our kids. We don't want to see them hurt and suffer which is a natural parental instinct but we need to let kids fail, to see that there are consequences to their actions from young ages so that as they get older they think about these.
Even though it is hard, we have to let them fail, it is good for them. We need to teach them to fight. To rise up and to be bold and to speak truth even if others don't agree with it. Teach them that the world may hate them but not to give up. Learn about perseverance even if you don't win.
We need to train them to live like King David, because the Christian life isn't easy and we need to prepare them for what lies ahead. If we want world changers we need to teach them young.
Genevieve Wilson is a happily married stay at home, home-schooling mum of 3, whose passion is to see people come to know Jesus. She is a seminary wife to her amazing husband and has worked 8 years as a missionary with Youth with a Mission (YWAM). She has a heart for justice.
Genevieve Wilson's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/genevieve-wilson.html