Goliath

Have you read this talk? It is one of my favorites. President Monson gave it back in 1987. He tells the story of David who faced Goliath in the Valley of Elah. Goliath wore heavy brass armor and was armed with a spear and sword, David on the other hand came before him with only a staff, sling and five smooth stones.
Appearing ill prepared for the battle David exclaimed “thou comest to me with a spear and with a shield; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defiled.”
We all know what happened, David slew Goliath and save the Israelites that day. But President Monson’s point was that if their had not been a Goliath, David would not have become the man that he was.
He further talks about the Goliaths in our lives. And how we respond to them defines our lives and forms us in to the men and women that the Lord knows we are.
He mentions the goliaths that Columbus, Joseph Smith and the Savior all faced . Then He says
"What is the significance of these accounts? Had there been no Ocean, there would have been no Columbus. No Jail and martyr, no Joseph, No Cross, no Christ."

Trials in our lives make us who we are. Either we can step up and seek to overcome or else we will be overcome.