I have always loved attending the Feast of Tabernacles. Sometimes I feel that I have grown up against a backdrop of attending the Feast and the precious memories that were built during those eight days. When I was a very young girl, my mother would take my brother, sister and I with her to the Feast. My father, never a member of our church, would travel with us, but not attend services. So my mother always made sure the three of us were dressed and ready to go.

During those eight days, and each day before and after, my mother planted, watered, and nurtured the seeds of my faith. She taught me to love God, to trust in His faithfulness, to find nourishment in His Word, and to depend upon Him to guide and direct my path. My mother lived her faith with every step she took. She was a giant...a spiritual giant.

To a child, giants are larger than life. They have incredible strength, never tire or grow weary, they never need rest, and never suffer from doubt or fear. Giants are impenetrable to the fiery darts thrown by the enemy. Giants have perfect faith.

Oh, to have the faith of a child…

Though I am a grown woman, with a family of my own, I still believe in giants. But the reality of the image of those giants has changed. When I was younger, I naively believed that to be a giant, I must find strength within myself for the battle ahead. I was wrong. Relying on myself for strength is the surest and quickest way to defeat. The ability to repel the fiery darts of this life comes from daily putting on God’s armor through prayer and study, and from choosing to “take up the shield of faith” when fear is trying to overwhelm us.

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one”  (Ephesians 6:11, 16).

I now understand that my mother never believed her strength alone was impenetrable. Rather, it was that she knew God’s strength was impenetrable. She relied on Him.

Once a year, we are offered an opportunity to come together as the family of God at the Feast of Tabernacles–a Bride making herself ready for her groom. For eight days we will focus on a different aspect of the coming Kingdom of God. We will strive to make our garments ready. In this world where the enemy is stalking like a roaring lion, our strength will come from standing side-by-side, shield-to-shield, prayer-to-prayer–armored by God.

The relationships we form with one another over this eight-day period are life-support for us in a world without clean air. God’s Holy Days offer us a clear vision of hope. These days are a light that shines out in a world that is getting darker all the time. They picture a promise that we all must hold fast to. They are rest in a wearied world.

During this Feast of Tabernacles, let us desire to give our Father in Heaven the worship of our lives. Let us share a love for God, His Sabbath, His Holy Days, and His plan of salvation with one another. Let us always remember that there are children watching us and learning from our examples. Let us be giants.