Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them. "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off. Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine (1 Samuel 17:38-40).
As David went out to fight, I think Saul had the best of intentions as he dressed David in his own tunic, armor and helmet. After all, David was going to fight Goliath, the champion of the Philistines. Saul thought that David would need what Saul himself wore. But remember that Saul was “an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites-a head taller than any of the others” (1 Samuel 9:2). The armor that fit him well proved to be too big and clumsy for David. David tried, but could not function in someone else’s armor, even though it belonged to the king. He took it off and decided to face Goliath with what he used best: his slingshot and five smooth stones, one for Goliath and each of his brothers.
Everywhere I go, I see people wearing armor that doesn’t fit them. They have put on what they thought they should wear or what they saw someone else use. But it isn’t them and often they aren’t happy. If you want to be a person of purpose, you must be true to who you are, not to who someone else thinks you should be. At times, you can take on the armor of your culture, trying to be who others say is acceptable or respectable. You cannot dress in someone else’s purpose and try to make it your own. David knew how he fought best and what worked for him. Armor may have worked for Saul, but not for David. David took it off and stayed true to who He was, who God created him to be. By doing so, David defeated a superior foe in the power of his own gifts and purpose.
How about you? Whose armor are you wearing? Are you having trouble moving around because you are weighed down by the expectations or good advice of some well-meaning person or persons close to you? Everywhere I go, I hear people “clanking around,” wearing the armor and tunic that belongs to another. The goal of your PurposeQuest is to find out who you are and see that as good enough for God to use. If you’re good enough for God, shouldn’t you also be good enough for yourself?
Spend some time this week reflecting on whether you’re wearing someone’s expectations and whether or not they are weighing you down, keeping you from being effective and happy. If you are, then do what David did—take them off! But don’t stop there. Put on the real you and go out to face life in the comfort of your own purpose and personality. You have your own Goliaths to face and God wants to give you victory against them. But first you must have confidence that you can be who God created you to be and still be a success. The world is waiting for the real you. May this be the week when you come out from under strange armor that you may be wearing. Have a great week!