3 Things To Do When Your Armor Doesn’t Fit
Are you wearing armor that doesn’t fit?
Can you imagine actually going around with a ‘suit’ of armor that is too big and dragging down past your knees? When your armor doesn’t fit, that’s a good thing because you can learn these 3 lessons from young David just before he fought Goliath.
So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off. 1 Samuel 17:38-39
Does this verse paint a colorful picture in your head?
David might have been a young teenaged boy about 15 years old. He had already been chosen to be the next king (1 Samuel 16:1-16) even though he was not the biggest and most likely person.
God often chooses the most unlikely person to do His will.
It was unlikely that David could fight against Goliath (1 Samuel 17) because he was so small in comparison to the giant!
Have you ever been in a situation where your problems are HUGE and you feel so inadequate, insignificant, ill-equipped, and simply too small?
We can both learn from David who prepared to fight Goliath when he was alone, doing an insignificant job, watching sheep.
1. Be Insignificant and Learn Humility
We aren’t talking about putting on the whole armor of God as in Ephesians 6:10-20.
The story of David and Goliath is a story we can learn of total reliance on God for the victory.
David’s victory is really God’s victory!
Goliath fought with brute strength and dominated his enemies with his enormous size. David relied on what he had learned while he was a shepherd.
- He learned total dependence on God! David was alone out on the hillside.
- He learned humility. Shepherds were not respected! His brother’s mocked him.
- He learned to be skillful with his slingshot! Sheep are dumb animals and they needed protection.
- He learned to have a relationship with God! He played his harp and wrote songs (Psalms)
David tried on Saul’s armor and it did not fit. Armor back in Bible times was made to fit the warrior exactly. Saul was a tall adult man while David was a young boy who hadn’t grown to full stature.
Even though David’s older brothers mocked him and were too fearful to fight Goliath themselves, he was willing.
I can see a funny picture of David with a huge helmet, heavy mail armor, and an oversized sword.
David couldn’t even walk!
He was insignificant and small!
David had learned these lessons from God when he was alone and totally relying on God’s protection on the hills as a shepherd.
He didn’t need all the outward protection when God had provided him with the skill and ability to be victorious!
2. Your Own Strength is Too Heavy
Saul’s armor was extremely heavy and made it impossible for David to walk.
Too often we try to walk in our own strength instead of walking with Jesus in faith. Our own strength is too heavy just like Saul’s armor.
David tried to walk but couldn’t. He told Saul that he couldn’t wear it because he had not tried or ‘proved’ it. Saul had been living in his own strength and that was what made his reign as king so disastrous.
David had tried walking by faith in the wilderness and it had proved to work. He wasn’t going to put on something that wasn’t going to work!
3. Your Armor Must Fit
Saul’s armor was made to fit him not David. You must wear your own armor and not armor made for someone else!
You have your own personality and God has created you to serve Him in a unique way. You weren’t designed by God to be me or another sister in Christ.
You are you and God created you for a special purpose that only you can carry out.
David did put on armor but it wasn’t physical armor like Saul’s cumbersome armor. He wore the invisible armor that God prepared just for him like in Ephesians 6:1-20.
4. You are a Warrior-Woman
The true story of David and Goliath is relatable because it is about the battles we face in everyday life.
Our battles can be enormous like Goliath.
God wants us to totally rely on Him without our armor of self-reliance.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God,so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.…Berean Study Bible
Your conflict is spiritual against an evil foe!
God will fit you with His invisible armor that will help you live fearlessly!
- Breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS! (Ephesians 6:14)
- Footwear is the GOSPEL of PEACE! (Ephesians 6:15)
- Shield of FAITH! (Ephesians 6:16)
- Helmet of SALVATION! (Ephesians 6:17)
- Sword of the SPIRIT! (Ephesians 6:17)
- Pray with the Mind of Christ (Ephesians 6:18)
When life’s problems are enormous and your armor does not fit, consider whether you are relying on your own strength instead of fully trusting in Jesus.
David’s life as a shepherd boy who was willing to fight the enormously huge Goliath illustrates how you can rely on God to fit you with His perfectly suited armor.
God is able to give you His strength to fight your battles as a warrior-woman.
Fight prayerfully. Fight with God’s invisible armor fit for your unique purpose and calling in life.
Be an intense warrior-woman
and fight with your FREE
30 Days of Prayerfulness Bible Reading Plan!
Have you been wearing armor that is too big for you?
Are you ready to wear God’s invisible armor that’s fit just for you?
I love your use of this passage and the analogy you drew from it, Judith. Insightful!
This was very well done, very helpful, very insightful, and very inspiring. Thank you so much!
Hi Maryann! What an encouragement to read your comment. I am so thankful that it encouraged you. It was just what ‘I’ needed this week! I never saw some of the things from this passage until now. It exactly when it made sense for my life. I pray that this is true for you too! Have a blessed day!