There’s usually something about villains that compels them to behave badly. Whether it’s bitterness, hurt, or even physical pain, most people who choose a life of violence, crime, or deception have traveled a rough road. Surprisingly, this may have been the case for Goliath. Historians believe that the fabled “bad guy” was afflicted by a condition called acromegaly, which is the result of a tumor on the pituitary gland that causes the body to release too much human growth hormone. As a result, though he was huge in size, his health was actually frail and brittle. In fact, it’s likely that he suffered from chronic pain and may have dealt with poor eyesight. Perhaps this is why the Bible says that he kept coming closer to David in order to get a good look at him. To give a modern example, Goliath reminds me of a 20th century fighter named Andre the Giant. Though not as huge as his Biblical predecessor, he stood at over seven feet, and he also dealt with acromegaly. In spite of the fact that he was an accomplished athlete and actor, he lived in constant pain, and his condition ultimately led him to alcoholism and an untimely death. To draw a parallel, while I’m not minimizing the physical affliction of these men, spiritually speaking, it’s important to remember that every giant has a weakness. 

My friend, though it’s never pleasant to deal with intimidating “giants” in your life, they are more fragile than you realize. While they often build themselves up by tearing you down, their words can do nothing to stop the indestructible power of the Holy Spirit as it works within you. When you arm yourself with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the Gospel of peace, the sword of the Spirit, and the shield of faith, you can take on any force of opposition that comes your way, no matter how cunning or scary it appears. As a child of the conquering King, you carry the Name of Jesus, and you are marked by His presence in every action and interaction. Pray for His wisdom, rely on His strength, and He will fight all your battles and bring you to victory!