When Giants Come Kickin’

Hey, there, friend, come on up here on this here front porch swing, and git mighty confy ‘cause, mercy, every now and then life can come strollin’ up as quiet as a deer in the early mornin’, or it can plum sneak up on you like a sneaky lil’ chipmunk stealin’ birdseed, but other times it can even come crashin’ in like an ol’ runaway hog that spotted an open feed bucket. Giants don’t always announce themselves. Sometimes they come right on in an’ show up in the middle of an ordinary day and knock you flatter than yesterday’s dried cornbread.

That’s why 1 Corinthians 10:12–13 matters so much ‘cause it reminds us, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.” And right alongside that promise stands Deuteronomy 31:6, where God says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Friend, that’s not just reassurance. That’s a rock‑solid guarantee from the God who never backs down from a giant. Them there verses is God’s way of sayin’ real loud, “Hold on now, friend. I’ve plum got you.”

When I was thirteen, I surely learned firsthand what a giant looks like. I was leadin’ a young horse to the oat patch after school, mindin’ my own business, when she heard her mama whinny. That little firecracker jerked the reins right through my hands and kicked up so fast she caught me square in the head. One second I was walkin’, and the next I was sprawled out like a lil’ possum playin’ dead on a country road. That moment led to hospital stays, two brain surgeries, and a plate in my head. Fear rattled my family like a woodpecker hammerin’ on a tin roof, and uncertainty stretched longer than a blacksnake layin’ out on a warm rock. But, friend, God met me right there in every beep of them machines I was hooked to, in every tear, in every long night, and in every slow step toward healin’.

That there horse mishap could’ve cost me my life. Those surgeries could’ve cost me my life. But they didn’t. They didn’t get the final say. They didn’t get to be writin’ the endin’. All they did was shine a real bright spotlight on the enormity of God’s awesome faithfulness. And that’s why Psalm 46:1 rings so true, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever‑present help in trouble.” Them ol’ giants may roar real loud, but God stands a whole lot taller.

And friend, not all giants come with hooves. Some show up as temptations that whisper louder than truth. Some come as grief that settles on your chest like a wet wool blanket. Some come as addictions that cling tighter than a burr in a hound dog’s tail. Some come as relationships that bruise instead of bless. An’ some come gallopin’ out of nowhere and kick you right in the head. But every single giant bows to the God who promises to make a way through.

Lord, thank You for bein’ faithful when life gets wild. Help me trust You when giants rise up, and remind me that Your strength is always greater than my fear. Keep my heart steady and my eyes on You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Well, friend, as you start gatherin’ yourself to step back into the swirl of your daily chores, let your heart settle on this truth. You gotta put your trust in God so your courage can rise higher than a squirrel makin’ a daredevil leap from one skinny limb to another, and let your faith hold steadier than a big ol’ oak tree that has stood its ground through a century of storms. Let God’s goodness speak louder in your spirit than any of those giants that try to holler you into fear ‘cause them ol’ giants love to roar, but they can’t outshout the One who speaks peace. Be lettin’ His strength carry you farther than any worry, wound, or wild‑eyed fear that ever tried to stop you ‘cause the mighty, big God who brought you this far is the same mighty, big God who’ll walk you all the rest of the way home, too!

With joy,

Gwen