Mrs Victoria Costilla
Law and Grace Ministries
Faith Baptist Church
Belleville, IL
Defeating Goliath
II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Have you ever been confronted by a Goliath? Such was my dilemma after our 2010 car accident. Sadly, fear gripped my heart and, like a giant, dominated my life. I would be a complete liar, if I told you I understood and lived II Timothy 1:7 at that time. Actually, I lived quite the opposite!
This April will mark 7 years, since some life-changing events took place in my heart. You see, God had set aside an appointed time to meet with me. He allowed my husband and me to be in a devastating car accident which severely fractured both of my arms in several places. Graciously, His loving arms carried me through 4 ½ hours of reconstructive surgery plus months of intense physical therapy. I often joked with my physical therapist about our love/hate relationship. I loved seeing her, but I hated the exercises because they hurt! I claimed the promise of Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”, and God nourished me and made the pain bearable.
During this time, I was seemingly on the mountain-top, experiencing Godgiven peace and comfort, in spite of the physical pain. I wouldn’t trade those precious days for anything! But sadly, after physical therapy was over, I welcomed in fear and forsook my GOD (not out rightly but in my heart).
As some of you can attest, an injury after a car accident messes with your mind. Your mind keeps on re-playing the accident. It’s actually a form of PTSD, and it possesses you! You find yourself in a dark valley and your strength is depleted when you relive the trauma without giving it to the Lord. It’s as if a giant has shoved you in the corner. You’re plagued with panic and anxiety attacks. Your prayer life is challenged like never before! You read
God’s WORD but have a hard time grasping it, due to your fear(s). If you’ve ever been here, I would strongly encourage you to seek help. Don’t be like me, thinking, “I can do this, in my own strength.” For years, I lived in constant fear thinking I had a good handle on my fear. In reality, fear had a good handle on me!
One day, I remember crying out to my GOD. I reminded HIM, how afraid I’d become of being part of another car accident. I had grown to hating car rides. I only tolerated cars when I was in the driver’s seat. Seeing brake lights scared me to death and I felt paralyzed. My anxiety made my whole family nervous; I was a mess! But gently and kindly, The Lord started drawing me to HIM. I could sense him tugging my heart, saying, “My Child, are you done? Don’t you think it’s time to stop trying to conquer this in your own strength? Will you trust me?” At that very moment, surrendering this fear was all I could think of; all I could do was cry!
Not too many days after my contrite prayer, our 11-year-old son had an acute pancreatitis attack and was transferred by ambulance from our local hospital to Children’s hospital in St Louis, and it didn’t matter if it was the morning St. Louis rush hour, he had to go immediately! And so the battle of the mind began and it went something like this: I was fighting my way back to the mountain top. And then, I saw him. My made-up ‘Goliath’ was waiting. He started throwing darts at me. Silly me, I was just too afraid to move. I froze! He said, “You will never be able to drive that car, you’re too afraid of another car accident.” The devil wanted me to re-play our car accident. The panic and anxiety attacks haunted me, fear grabbed me. This Goliath threatened my sound mind! It was as if my mind had allowed the devil to twist II Timothy 1:7, to scare me!
Goliath had become real! But it was then that I cried out to the LORD, and HE heard me! The LORD drew me to HIMSELF and I knew I was safe in HIS strong arms. My GOD prepared the sling! Then, the potent stone of the power of God’s word hit Goliath right in the forehead… and down went
Goliath! Just to make sure he was really dead, his head was cut off. It is finished! And just like that, God removed that fear and gave me perfect peace! I drove to St. Louis, and I didn’t look back. Our son needed his momma and by God’s grace I was able to be there for him!
Today, I’m reminded that GOD will never give us more than we can handle. God allows us to go through struggles so we can learn to trust HIM. Likewise, God allows us to share testimonies that will bring honor and glory to HIM. If you have valleys with Goliaths, He will do the same for you.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (Isaiah 26:3) This verse right here will help in so many areas of our thinking! What about you, is there a giant you’ve allowed to rule your mind? I beg you, don’t try to take him down on your own. Give that giant over to the LORD. Only HE has the power to slay the giants and give us the victories! Remember, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
- Zac and Victoria Costilla are the directors of Law & Grace Ministries, of Faith Baptist Church, in Belleville, IL. They oversee chaplains to law enforcement and correctional officers, to prison and jail inmates, and a comprehensive ministry to returning citizens as they leave incarceration. Law & Grace Ministries also has a food pantry to minister to the local community.
II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Have you ever been confronted by a Goliath? Such was my dilemma after our 2010 car accident. Sadly, fear gripped my heart and, like a giant, dominated my life. I would be a complete liar, if I told you I understood and lived II Timothy 1:7 at that time. Actually, I lived quite the opposite!
This April will mark 7 years, since some life-changing events took place in my heart. You see, God had set aside an appointed time to meet with me. He allowed my husband and me to be in a devastating car accident which severely fractured both of my arms in several places. Graciously, His loving arms carried me through 4 ½ hours of reconstructive surgery plus months of intense physical therapy. I often joked with my physical therapist about our love/hate relationship. I loved seeing her, but I hated the exercises because they hurt! I claimed the promise of Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”, and God nourished me and made the pain bearable.
During this time, I was seemingly on the mountain-top, experiencing Godgiven peace and comfort, in spite of the physical pain. I wouldn’t trade those precious days for anything! But sadly, after physical therapy was over, I welcomed in fear and forsook my GOD (not out rightly but in my heart).
As some of you can attest, an injury after a car accident messes with your mind. Your mind keeps on re-playing the accident. It’s actually a form of PTSD, and it possesses you! You find yourself in a dark valley and your strength is depleted when you relive the trauma without giving it to the Lord. It’s as if a giant has shoved you in the corner. You’re plagued with panic and anxiety attacks. Your prayer life is challenged like never before! You read
God’s WORD but have a hard time grasping it, due to your fear(s). If you’ve ever been here, I would strongly encourage you to seek help. Don’t be like me, thinking, “I can do this, in my own strength.” For years, I lived in constant fear thinking I had a good handle on my fear. In reality, fear had a good handle on me!
One day, I remember crying out to my GOD. I reminded HIM, how afraid I’d become of being part of another car accident. I had grown to hating car rides. I only tolerated cars when I was in the driver’s seat. Seeing brake lights scared me to death and I felt paralyzed. My anxiety made my whole family nervous; I was a mess! But gently and kindly, The Lord started drawing me to HIM. I could sense him tugging my heart, saying, “My Child, are you done? Don’t you think it’s time to stop trying to conquer this in your own strength? Will you trust me?” At that very moment, surrendering this fear was all I could think of; all I could do was cry!
Not too many days after my contrite prayer, our 11-year-old son had an acute pancreatitis attack and was transferred by ambulance from our local hospital to Children’s hospital in St Louis, and it didn’t matter if it was the morning St. Louis rush hour, he had to go immediately! And so the battle of the mind began and it went something like this: I was fighting my way back to the mountain top. And then, I saw him. My made-up ‘Goliath’ was waiting. He started throwing darts at me. Silly me, I was just too afraid to move. I froze! He said, “You will never be able to drive that car, you’re too afraid of another car accident.” The devil wanted me to re-play our car accident. The panic and anxiety attacks haunted me, fear grabbed me. This Goliath threatened my sound mind! It was as if my mind had allowed the devil to twist II Timothy 1:7, to scare me!
Goliath had become real! But it was then that I cried out to the LORD, and HE heard me! The LORD drew me to HIMSELF and I knew I was safe in HIS strong arms. My GOD prepared the sling! Then, the potent stone of the power of God’s word hit Goliath right in the forehead… and down went
Goliath! Just to make sure he was really dead, his head was cut off. It is finished! And just like that, God removed that fear and gave me perfect peace! I drove to St. Louis, and I didn’t look back. Our son needed his momma and by God’s grace I was able to be there for him!
Today, I’m reminded that GOD will never give us more than we can handle. God allows us to go through struggles so we can learn to trust HIM. Likewise, God allows us to share testimonies that will bring honor and glory to HIM. If you have valleys with Goliaths, He will do the same for you.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee (Isaiah 26:3) This verse right here will help in so many areas of our thinking! What about you, is there a giant you’ve allowed to rule your mind? I beg you, don’t try to take him down on your own. Give that giant over to the LORD. Only HE has the power to slay the giants and give us the victories! Remember, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
- Zac and Victoria Costilla are the directors of Law & Grace Ministries, of Faith Baptist Church, in Belleville, IL. They oversee chaplains to law enforcement and correctional officers, to prison and jail inmates, and a comprehensive ministry to returning citizens as they leave incarceration. Law & Grace Ministries also has a food pantry to minister to the local community.
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