SOAP Devotional by Herbie Sanders (Junior at NHCC)

S – Scripture

1 Samuel 17:48 – “When the Philistine arose and came near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.”

O – Observation

This moment captures David’s boldness and unshakable trust in God. After a tense verbal exchange, Goliath advanced—perhaps assuming his threats would intimidate David. But instead of shrinking back, David ran toward the battle. He didn’t hesitate, flinch, or even seem phased by the size or strength of the enemy. He moved with confidence, not because he knew how hard the fight would be or had guaranteed success in himself, but because he trusted God. Sometimes victory comes in a single moment of faith; other times, it follows years of struggle. Either way, the first step is to walk into the fight with the Lord by our side.

A – Application

Like David, I want to be someone who doesn’t wait passively in fear but runs toward my battles with confidence in God. I don’t need to know how long the fight will last or how difficult it will be. What matters is trusting that God will be faithful. My job is not to measure the battle—it’s to trust the One who goes before me. Whether it’s anxiety, doubt, opposition, or weariness, I can face it knowing that God can still bring victory, even through just a small “stone” of faith.

P – Prayer

Dear Lord, please give me the strength to fight like David. The giants before me feel intimidating, and like the rest of Israel, I often freeze. But I long for the courage David had—to run forward, not shrink back. I praise You and trust You in every step. In Jesus’ name, amen.