The Armor That Doesn't Fit

By Romina Chevren

“Then Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze on his head and clothed him with a coat of mail, and David strapped his sword over his armor. And he tried in vain to go, for he had not tested them. Then David said to Saul, ‘I cannot go with these, for I have not tested them.’ So David put them off. Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine. And the Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field.’”—1 Samuel 17:38–44 (ESV)

This passage paints a vivid picture of a young man standing on the edge of an impossible battle. David, still a boy, is preparing to face Goliath, the giant warrior who has terrorized Israel. Saul, Israel’s king, offers David his own royal armor—a logical and seemingly kind gesture. But as David straps on the heavy bronze helmet and the coat of mail, he realizes something important: The armor doesn’t fit—it’s bulky, untested, and foreign to him.

David tries to walk but stumbles, uncomfortable in something that was never meant for him. He makes a bold decision—he takes off the armor and chooses instead the tools God had already trained him with: a simple sling and five smooth stones. To the watching world, this must have looked foolish. Goliath himself mocks David, ridiculing him for coming to battle like a boy with sticks. Yet, David steps forward, confident not in the stones or the sling, but in the living God who had been with him all along.

This passage challenges us to consider the "armor" we often try to wear in life. How often do we step into roles, expectations, or strategies that don't align with how God has designed us? Perhaps it's the pressure to conform to societal norms, the expectation to handle challenges in a specific way, or the temptation to rely on worldly wisdom rather than God's leading. Like David, we must recognize when something doesn’t fit—when we’re wearing armor that was never meant for us.

David understood something profound: Victory doesn’t come through human strength, appearances, or borrowed strategies. It comes through trust in God and faithful use of what He’s already placed in our hands.

I remember when I first moved to South Florida to work in ministry. I felt this immense pressure to fit into the mold of what others expected me to be. I thought I had to speak a certain way, pray with a certain style, and lead ministry just like others around me. It was as if I had put on someone else’s armor—heavy, unfamiliar, and constraining.

I tried to mold myself into what I thought was the “right” way to do things. I spoke cautiously, acted in ways that didn’t feel authentic, and constantly second-guessed myself. Deep down, I felt like I was stumbling, just like David as he tried to walk in Saul’s armor. It wasn’t working, and I was exhausted.

One day, during my personal time with God, I felt Him gently asking, “Romina, why are you trying to be someone you’re not? I called you as you are with the gifts I’ve given you.” It was a moment of clarity. I realized God didn’t call me to be a carbon copy of someone else. He called me with my background, my story, and my heart.

I began to shed that ill-fitting armor. I started leading in a way that felt true to who God created me to be—speaking from my heart, praying freely, and loving people in the simple, authentic ways I was familiar with. And you know what? That’s when I truly started to see God move. Not because I was doing everything “right” by human standards, but because I was finally stepping forward in faith, using the tools He had already placed in my hands.

Like David, I learned that victory doesn’t come from wearing someone else’s armor. It comes from trusting God and being faithful with what He’s given us. So, the next time you face a battle, remember: It’s not about the armor—it’s about the God who fights for you.

Pause: Take a moment to reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you’re wearing “armor” that doesn’t fit? Maybe it’s the pressure to meet others’ expectations, a role you feel forced into, or strategies you’ve adopted that don’t align with your God-given identity.

Ask yourself:

·Am I trusting in worldly solutions or in God’s provision?

·Is there an area in my life where I’m trying to be someone I’m not?

·What gifts, talents, or tools has God already placed in my hands that I may be overlooking?

Practice:

1. Identify the ill-fitting armor.
Spend time journaling or praying about the “armor” you’ve been wearing. It could be emotional defenses, societal pressures, or even ministry roles that don’t align with your unique calling. Acknowledge them and be willing to set them aside.

2. Embrace your God-given tools.
Like David’s sling and stones, God has given you specific gifts, skills, and experiences. Reflect on these and consider how you can use them in the battles you're currently facing. Remember, God often uses the simple and overlooked things for His glory.

3. Step forward in faith.
It’s not enough to take off the armor; we must also step forward into battle, trusting in God’s strength. Take a small but bold step today in an area where you feel God calling you. It might be starting a conversation, making a difficult decision, or simply resting in the knowledge that God fights for you.

Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me that I don’t need to wear the armor of this world to face the giants in my life. Help me to lay aside the expectations, pressures, and roles that don’t align with who You’ve created me to be. Teach me to trust in the gifts and tools You’ve already placed in my hands, even when they seem small or insignificant.Give me courage, Lord, to step forward in faith, knowing that the battle belongs to You. Strengthen my heart against the voices that mock or discourage, and fix my eyes on You, the source of my victory. I surrender my battles, my fears, and my future into Your hands.In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.