The truth is, you don’t have to fight every battle! Let that be a continual source of relief and peace in your life. But there are some battles you have been appointed to by God. That means you don’t have to enter into every debate, or confront every opinion or position you don’t agree with. That’s good news, because we tend to hear things and see things and swiftly jump into the middle of it. You can “turn the other cheek.” You can practice holding your tongue. You can become a person of self-control, even when you know what’s right. You don’t have to fight every battle, but only those you have been appointed to by God.
Israel’s army was at a stand-still in the battle against Goliath and the Philistines. Not one solder was moving or volunteering to go against Goliath, but when David heard and saw what was taking place, he knew he was appointed to this battle. David said to King Saul,
“The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you!” I Samuel 17:37
David was not only appointed to fight against Goliath, David had been prepared by God for this fight. David had killed a lion and bear while protecting his flock as a shepherd, but that wasn’t the extent or essence of his preparations. God had prepared David to trust in Him. Did you hear that? That’s the essence of our trials and challenges in life. Our trials are moments and seasons of preparation to trust God in a greater way. David was not only prepared to go against Goliath, but David was permitted to fight against Goliath, Saul said, “Go, and the LORD be with you!”
If you try to fight a battle you haven’t been appointed to or prepared for, you will not have the resources of heaven available to you. If you try to fight a battle you haven’t been appointed to, you may damage your witness for God and you may sever relationships unintentionally. When you fight a battle you were not appointed to, you may get yourself hurt mentally and emotionally. Learn spiritual discernment and live with the understanding that you don’t have to fight in every battle.