Before David could ever face Goliath on the battlefield, he had to survive a battle of words in his own camp. The moment David began asking questions and shifting the atmosphere from fear to faith, his oldest brother Eliab attacked his character. Eliab tried to minimize David’s past (“those few sheep”) and misinterpret his motives (“I know your pride”).

Often, the closest voices to us are the ones that attempt to pull us back into the trenches. When you decide to stand brave, you will frequently encounter the “Eliabs” in your life—critics, skeptics, or even your own internal doubts—reminding you of your small beginnings or past failures. They want you to stay quiet because your faith exposes their fear.

David’s response was masterfully simple: “What have I done now?” David replied. “I was only asking a question!” (1 Sam 17:29). He refused to waste his energy fighting the wrong battle. To defeat your giant, you must learn to ignore the critics on the sidelines. You cannot let the opinions of people disqualify you from the purpose of God.