The Philistines had a super weapon in their arsenal which they believed made them invincible.  They had Goliath.  The Israelites were all pessimists.  When they saw Goliath they thought, “Wow, with a guy that big, we’ll never be able to beat the Philistines.”  David, on the other hand was an optimist.  When he saw Goliath he thought, “Wow, with a target that big, I can’t miss!”

Goliath wanted to fight hand-to-hand.  David was wise enough to know that he’d have no chance if he allowed himself to get that close to evil, and he had no intention of doing so.  He chose a weapon that was technologically advanced over swords and spears.  If he used a sling, he wouldn’t have to even get within range of Goliath’s inferior weapons.

David was armed with more than faith when he went to face Goliath.  He knew that the Lord was with him and that he’d, therefore, prevail; but he also had confidence in his own abilities.  While watching his father’s sheep, he had spent many hours practicing with his sling.  He became so good at using his sling that he could hit the smallest target with accuracy.

David had faith, David had confidence in his abilities, and David had a plan.  The Israelites had no plan, and were, therefore, sure to fail.  Because David had a plan, and because he had confidence in himself, and faith in the Lord, he was sure to succeed.

David’s plan was to hit Goliath in his one vulnerable spot.  He studied Goliath’s armor and found that the only unprotected part of his body was his face.  That was a target he was capable of hitting.  He selected five smooth stones and ran to meet the giant.  One stone, coupled with his confidence and skill, would have been enough.  He knew that he was going to succeed.  He slung the stone, and it sunk deep into the giant’s forehead, the very spot he’d aimed for.

It’s easy to gather and to cast stones, but to do so with any accuracy and skill requires an infinite amount of practice.  What might we accomplish if we approached our problems—our giants—with David’s faith and preparation?  If we want to play piano, we have to practice every day.  Thomas Jefferson said that if we want the ability to write, we must write something every day.  If you want to be a woodturner, and make beautiful things on a lathe, you’re not going to be skillful until you’ve turned hundreds of items.  If you want to be a mechanical engineer, you’re going to have to invest the time, work hard, and get an education.

“But your education to become a doctor took 13 years,” a young man complained to Elder Russell M. Nelson.  “If I stayed in school for 13 years I’d be 33 years old before I completed my education.”

“How old will you be in 13 years if you don’t get an education?” Elder Nelson asked.

Proper preparation and a plan will give you confidence in your abilities.  Couple that with faith in the Lord and you’ll have a winning combination that will defeat any giant.