What You Learned in the Field | How God Uses Past Trials to Prepare You Could the difficult seasons you have already survived be preparing you for what God is asking you to face now? In First Samuel 17, David stood before Saul and explained why he was willing to face Goliath. His confidence came from remembering what God had already done when no one else was watching. “And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and thy servant slew them both: as this Philistine shall be, as one of them.” — First Samuel 17:34–36 KJV Before there was Goliath, there was a lion and a bear. Before there was a public battle in the valley of Elah, there were private battles in a field. Nobody applauded those victories. Nobody gathered to watch. They were simply moments between David, the danger before him, and the God who delivered him. But those moments were not wasted. In this episode of Digging Another Well, we continue our David and Goliath Bible study through First Samuel 17 and explore how God uses difficult seasons, private struggles, past trials, and quiet faithfulness to prepare us for what comes next. When Saul questioned David’s ability to fight Goliath, David did not focus on his qualifications. He remembered God’s faithfulness. The lion had taught him something. The bear had taught him something. David had already discovered in the field that he could trust God when the odds were against him. So when everyone else saw an impossible giant, David remembered the God who had delivered him before. David’s confidence wasn’t arrogance. It was a testimony. Romans 8:28 reminds believers that God can work all things together for good according to His purpose. That means seasons that seemed pointless, painful, hidden, or impossibly long can become part of what God uses to prepare us. Every believer has a field. There are battles you fought when nobody was watching. Seasons when remaining faithful was itself a victory. Trials that developed something in you that comfort never could. Heartache that changed how you understand people, pain, and God’s faithfulness. What if none of it was wasted? When your next giant appears, the question may not be whether you have the most impressive qualifications. The question may be: What did you learn in the field? What has God already brought you through? What have you learned about His faithfulness? What testimony are you carrying into this battle? David brought the lion and the bear with him—not physically, but as evidence that the God who had delivered him there could be trusted here. What God built in your field may be exactly what you need when you enter your valley. Primary Scripture: First Samuel 17:34–36 KJV Topics: David and Goliath Bible study, First Samuel 17, God uses your past, trusting God through trials, God’s preparation, Romans 8:28, God’s faithfulness, remembering what God has done, overcoming difficult seasons, purpose in trials, spiritual growth through hardship, preparing for God’s calling, Christian encouragement during hard times, testimony of God’s faithfulness, Christian devotional, KJV Bible study Digging Another Well is a Christian devotional and Bible study podcast from Another Well Ministries offering biblical encouragement, KJV Scripture teaching, and practical Christian application to help believers grow in their faith and walk with Jesus Christ. Find more Christian devotionals, Bible studies, Scripture resources, and biblical encouragement from Another Well Ministries at anotherwell.org. Digging Another Well is a devotional podcast from Another Well Ministries, offering short, Scripture-centered reflections to help you walk faithfully with God in everyday life. Each episode provides a quiet space to pause, reflect, and be reminded of God’s presence and faithfulness in every season. To explore more devotionals and resources, visit anotherwell.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
