David - the man after God's own heart - was a man of war and a

“David — the man after God’s own heart — was a man of war and a mighty man of valour. When all Israel were on the run, David faced Goliath — alone… with God — and he but a stripling, and well scolded, too, by his brother for having come to see the battle.” — so spoke Charles Studd, the missionary and soldier of faith, whose life burned with zeal for the service of Christ. In these words, Studd recalls one of the most ancient and powerful symbols of courage — David, the shepherd-boy turned warrior, who stood alone upon the field of giants. Yet beneath his recounting lies a deeper message, one not merely of bravery, but of faith that conquers fear, of divine strength revealed through human weakness.

The origin of this quote is found in the writings and sermons of Charles Thomas Studd, a man once known for his worldly success as a cricketer, who abandoned wealth and fame to bring the Gospel to the darkest corners of the earth. Like David, Studd believed that faith was not a matter of comfort but of combat. To him, the Christian life was a battlefield upon which the faithful must stand — even if they stand alone with God. In lifting up David as his example, he was calling upon men to reject cowardice, to face their giants with steadfast hearts, and to trust that divine power works most mightily through those who seem small and unprepared.

When Studd speaks of David being “alone… with God,” he reminds us of the sacred paradox that defines all true heroism. David stood not in strength, but in surrender. Before him loomed Goliath — the embodiment of fear, arrogance, and human power. Behind him trembled the armies of Israel, paralyzed by doubt. Yet David’s courage was not born from self-confidence, but from confidence in God. With nothing but a sling and a few stones, he stepped forward into destiny, declaring, “The battle is the Lord’s.” Thus, his victory was not the triumph of a warrior over a giant, but of faith over fear, of spirit over flesh.

Studd, like many saints of old, saw in this tale the reflection of his own struggle — and of ours. Every generation faces its Goliaths: the forces of unbelief, of despair, of moral decay. The modern man, too, stands in a trembling camp, surrounded by the voices that tell him to stay safe, to retreat, to compromise. Yet the call of God remains the same: stand alone if you must, but stand with Him. True courage is not found in numbers, but in conviction. The crowd may flee, the brothers may scold, but the soul that trusts in the Eternal cannot be defeated.

Consider also the story of Joan of Arc, the maiden of France, who, like David, stood alone with God against impossible odds. Mocked, threatened, and abandoned, she heard the divine voice calling her to battle. With nothing but faith and fire in her heart, she led her people to victory. Later, condemned and burned, she perished as a heretic in the eyes of men — yet rose immortal in the eyes of Heaven. Her courage was not born of pride, but of the same spirit that moved David and that Studd sought to awaken in every believer: the valor of faith.

Studd’s mention that David was “well scolded by his brother” is no idle remark. It points to the eternal truth that the greatest opposition often comes not from enemies, but from those closest to us — those who cannot see the vision that faith beholds. Eliab, David’s brother, saw only arrogance in his younger sibling’s courage. But God saw something deeper: a heart that burned with divine trust. The man “after God’s own heart” was not perfect, but he was devoted — devoted enough to act when others would only speak. Studd’s words urge us to embrace the same spirit, to listen not to the doubters of this world, but to the quiet command of faith within our souls.

The lesson, then, is both ancient and urgent: Do not fear to stand alone when truth calls you to battle. Whether your giant is despair, injustice, temptation, or the mockery of others, know that you are never truly alone if you stand with God. Do not measure your strength by what is in your hand, but by who is in your heart. Like David, you may seem a mere stripling before the world’s Goliath, yet one stone of faith, guided by the hand of Heaven, can fell the mightiest foe.

So let the words of Charles Studd echo through your soul: “David faced Goliath — alone… with God.” For in every age, the world waits for its Davids — men and women who will rise, not in pride, but in faith; who will confront their giants with courage born not of power, but of trust. The battle still belongs to the Lord. Stand firm, act boldly, and know this truth: to stand with God, even alone, is to stand in the company of angels.