Before the Giant: Lions, Giants & Bears — But God (Frank Santora)

May 12, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Anointing in the Sheepfield

Samuel stood in Jesse’s house as seven sons paraded before him. Each looked strong, kingly, and qualified. But God rejected them all. When Samuel pressed Jesse, the old man reluctantly admitted, “There remains yet the youngest…keeping the sheep.” David entered—sunburned, smelling of pasture, ignored by his family. Samuel poured oil on his head. The Spirit rushed upon him. But David returned to the fields, unchanged in routine yet marked by heaven. [03:06]

God’s choices defy human logic. He bypassed Jesse’s assumptions and Bethlehem’s expectations to crown a shepherd. The anointing wasn’t about David’s readiness but God’s sovereign plan. While others saw a boy fit only for lambs, God saw a king who’d carry His heart.

You don’t need others’ approval to walk in God’s purpose. What ordinary task has God asked you to keep doing faithfully, even when no one notices?

“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.”
(1 Samuel 16:13, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal His view of your hidden seasons. Thank Him for preparing you beyond others’ perceptions.
Challenge: Write down one routine responsibility you’ve undervalued. Do it today with renewed focus as worship.

Day 2: Bright Eyes in Rejection

David’s brothers stood tall before Samuel. He wasn’t summoned. His father listed seven sons but forgot the eighth. Yet when David finally entered, Scripture notes his “bright eyes”—not downcast or bitter. Rejection by family didn’t dim his spirit. He carried lambs, not grudges. [07:41]

Rejection tests whether we anchor our worth in human validation or divine calling. David’s eyes shone because he knew his identity wasn’t tied to Jesse’s oversight. God sees hearts, not hierarchies. When others exclude you, Heaven still includes you.

How do you respond when overlooked? Do your eyes—your countenance—still reflect hope, or has disappointment clouded your vision?

“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
(1 Samuel 16:7, NKJV)

Prayer: Confess any bitterness from being excluded. Ask Jesus to heal areas where rejection has dimmed your joy.
Challenge: Text or call someone who’s felt overlooked. Affirm their value without mentioning past hurts.

Day 3: Oil and the Unseen Heart

Samuel’s oil flowed only when David arrived. His brothers watched the runt of the family receive Heaven’s stamp. Yet David didn’t demand the throne. For 15 years, he herded sheep, wrote psalms, and honed his sling—trusting God’s timing over his anointing. [24:13]

Anointing is a promise, not a permission slip for impatience. David’s heart grew in hiddenness, learning that God’s “yes” outweighs others’ “no.” Your current obscurity is training, not punishment. What God starts in secret, He’ll unveil in purpose.

Are you trying to rush a process God designed to deepen your dependence on Him?

“And David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.”
(1 Samuel 17:15, NKJV)

Prayer: Thank God for His timing. Ask for grace to wait without striving to force doors open.
Challenge: Set a 15-minute timer today to sit silently, practicing trust instead of planning outcomes.

Day 4: Skillful Hands, Prepared Heart

David played his harp alone until his skill summoned him to Saul’s palace. He didn’t rely on his anointing alone but sharpened his gift. The same hands that strummed melodies later swung slingshots. Competence partnered with calling. [28:29]

God gives gifts, but discipline turns them into tools. David’s music soothed Saul because he’d practiced in the fields. Your “small” faithfulness today builds capacity for tomorrow’s battles. Don’t resent preparation—embrace it as part of your assignment.

What gift have you neglected to develop, assuming God’s anointing alone will suffice?

“Then one of the servants answered and said, ‘Look, I have seen a son of Jesse…who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.’”
(1 Samuel 16:18, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask God to reignite your passion for stewarding your gifts diligently, not just relying on raw talent.
Challenge: Spend 20 minutes practicing a skill (music, writing, craft) you’ve set aside. Offer it as worship.

Day 5: Valleys Before Tablelands

David wrote Psalm 23 after years of leading sheep through dark ravines. He learned valleys weren’t detours but pathways to higher ground. The shepherd’s rod corrected and protected, teaching David to trust guidance over comfort. [35:47]

Valleys train you to discern God’s presence in the shadows. Every steep climb and narrow pass in your life is forging unshakable trust. The tablelands of victory come only after walking through the wilderness with Him.

What valley are you resisting instead of letting it deepen your reliance on the Shepherd?

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
(Psalm 23:4, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask God to help you see His purpose in your current valley. Thank Him for walking with you.
Challenge: Take a 10-minute walk outdoors today. With each step, name one fear you’re surrendering to God.

Sermon Summary

We gather around the Bible and declare a life formed by Scripture, committing daily to its nourishment and transformation. The narrative of David begins not at triumph but at being overlooked; God chooses from the heart, not from status. Rejection prepares identity when family and community fail to recognize calling. We must refuse to internalize rejection, keep bright eyes of expectancy, and hand hurts to God so setbacks redirect rather than derail destiny. Selection by God precedes performance; God often appoints before public proof, and our calling depends on preparation more than applause. Success tests character because public favor exposes pride; faithful private service guards against entitlement. Anointing does not excuse sloppiness. We honor gifts by developing skill and competence, making faithfulness practical and excellent. The text shows David summoned to palace because he became skillful with the harp, not merely because he carried promise. Skill amplifies calling and opens doors that mere claim will not. The deepest formation happens in relationship with God. Valley experiences force intimacy and dependence, and those valleys lead to prepared table lands where abundance meets enemies. Trust grows through trials so that when giants appear we stand confident in God’s proven presence. Down often becomes the way up; routine faithfulness hides destiny until breakthrough. The path to victory requires handling rejection well, stewarding success humbly, building competency in gifts, and cultivating a walking relationship with God who shepherds through valleys to tables. We must remain faithful in ordinary places, work to refine our gifts, and let God shape character so promotion will not destroy but fulfill purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. Learn to handle rejection Rejection shapes identity more than circumstance. We must refuse to internalize the verdicts of others and keep spiritual expectancy alive. Giving our wounds to God converts bitterness into redirection and trust. Responding rightly to rejection keeps God’s assignment intact. [05:44]
2. Selection precedes human recognition God often chooses before people notice, and calling rests on preparation not performance. We must stop corralling our worth around visible approval and live as those already selected by God. That perspective frees persistence when recognition lags. Selection anchors identity beyond applause. [09:05]
3. Faithfulness keeps success humble Public favor reveals what private habits formed. Remaining faithful in the field proves whether promotion will mature or corrupt. We must let success increase gratitude, not entitlement, by practicing the same disciplines in prosperity as in obscurity. Humble stewardship honors the Giver. [19:34]
4. Develop gifts into skillful competence Anointing without skill limits opportunity; excellence unlocks access. We should invest time to refine gifts into reliable competencies so others notice our usefulness. Competence amplifies calling and clears pathways for assignment. Skill prepares us to serve well under pressure. [28:29]
5. Relationship with God builds trust Valleys cultivate dependence and prepare us for tables in the presence of enemies. Intimacy with God produces the calm confidence needed before giants. We must walk close to the Shepherd so rod and staff form trust that carries into battle. Deep relationship sustains destiny. [33:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:51] - Scripture reading and declaration
[01:20] - The command: do whatever he says
[02:01] - God looks at the heart
[02:47] - David introduced: overlooked youth
[03:06] - Anointing and new beginning
[05:44] - Handling rejection
[09:05] - Selection comes before performance
[19:34] - Success and private faithfulness
[26:09] - Competency and stewardship of gifts
[33:15] - Psalm 23 and relationship with God
[37:08] - Valley to table: trust formed
[39:56] - Closing and worship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
1 Samuel 16:1-13 (NKJV)
Psalm 23 (NKJV)
Deuteronomy 8:11-18 (NKJV)

Observation questions

In 1 Samuel 16:7, what reason does God give for rejecting David’s brothers as potential kings? How does this contrast with human judgment?
According to the sermon, what practical skill allowed David to be summoned to Saul’s palace, even before his public victory over Goliath? [28:29]
Psalm 23:4 mentions walking through the "valley of the shadow of death." What two tools does the shepherd use to comfort the sheep in this verse, and what might they symbolize?
Deuteronomy 8:11-18 warns against forgetting God after achieving success. What specific dangers does this passage associate with prosperity?

Interpretation questions

Why might God intentionally choose someone overlooked (like David) to fulfill His purposes, rather than those who appear qualified by human standards?
The sermon states, "Rejection always turns into right direction when you give it to God" [15:56]. How might rejection actually protect or redirect someone toward God’s plan, even when it feels painful?
Psalm 23 moves from valleys to "prepared tables." How do difficult seasons (valleys) prepare believers to handle abundance or opposition ("tables in the presence of enemies")?
The sermon emphasizes that "anointing does not excuse sloppiness" [26:09]. Why might spiritual gifting alone be insufficient without practical skill development?

Application questions

When have you felt overlooked or rejected in a family, workplace, or community setting? How can the truth that "selection by God precedes performance" shift your perspective in that situation? [09:05]
Success can test humility. What daily habits or disciplines (e.g., prayer, gratitude, serving others) could help you stay connected to God during seasons of recognition or achievement?
Identify one skill related to your gifts (e.g., teaching, hospitality, leadership) that needs intentional development. What specific step could you take this week to grow in competence? [27:51]
Reflect on a current "valley" experience (challenge, waiting season, or uncertainty). How might this difficulty be cultivating deeper trust in God’s presence and timing?
The sermon warns against letting success create entitlement [23:30]. What practical safeguard (e.g., accountability, generosity, regular fasting) could you implement to keep gratitude central in prosperous seasons?
David returned to shepherding after his anointing. Where is God calling you to practice "routine faithfulness" even when it feels disconnected from your ultimate calling?

Sermon Clips

31s

#GodSeesTheHeart

“Just because someone didn't choose you, doesn't mean God isn't going to use you. Just because someone didn't see value in you doesn't mean that God hasn't placed value on you. Why? God sees differently. What does God say to Samuel? Don't look at his outward appearance. I don't look that way. Man looks on the outward appearance. I see the heart. See, people see what is visible. God sees what is hidden. People saw a shepherd. God saw a king. People saw a failure. God saw success. People see mistakes. God sees a masterpiece.”

43s

#GiveRejectionToJesus

“Rejection is a spiritual decision. You can't pretend like it doesn't hurt. That's not gonna fix it. You can't blame everybody else. That's not gonna fix it. The only thing that you can do with rejection in order to for it to to to turn you in the right direction is for you to give it to God. Because the only one that knows what rejection feels like and can help you overcome it is Jesus. Rejected by his friends, rejected by his family, rejected by creation. But how many of you know that rejection did not stop him from fulfilling his destiny? And when you give your rejection to Jesus, can I tell you what he does? He puts you on the fast track to your right direction.”

32s

#ChosenNotByStatus

“They think that God is only choosing the people who have status, and God only chooses the people who have followers, and God only chooses the people who are making a difference. But I want you to know that your selection, that God God chooses you long before anybody ever knows you, and that God has an assignment for you, even when nobody, even you doesn't think there is one. And we love the part of the story where David's got the victory, and as we said, the bragging rights and the giant falls. But most people don't realize that Goliath didn't make David. Goliath revealed what was already in David.”

27s

#HumbleWithPromotion

“How do we handle when God permit begins to promote us? Some people get one compliment and become unteachable. One opportunity and suddenly they're too important to serve. One prophetic word and now they don't think they need to be accountable anymore. One financial blessing and all of a sudden they don't need God anymore. They're not praying anymore. David understood if God opened a door for him, then God was responsible for the timing of the door and David was gonna handle success with a humble heart.”

70s

#ValleyIsTheWayUp

“And these table lands were places that the shepherd had prepared so that the sheep would have everything they need during the hot summer months. And that shepherd would go to these table lands way before he brought the sheep there, and he would prepare it. He would make sure that the greenery was plush, and that there was no predators and no insects, and he would prepare this wonderful place. But the only way to get his sheep to the mountaintop was through the valley. Listen to me. Listen to me. Down is often the way up. Y'all missed that. Down is often the way up. Lest a kernel of wheat fall to the ground and die, is often a way up? Because valley experiences do something to your trust.”

55s

#DontLetSuccessDefineYou

“They measure it the way the world measures it. And so when they have a lot, and when they're driving good, and when they're they're living good, and when they're eating good, and when their bank account is full and good, they think I'm successful. You aren't successful in God's eyes if you have forgotten the God who gave you the gifting for you to get there. How you handle success is you remember God every single If your success keeps you away from church, you're a failure. If your success makes it so you rob the tithe, you're a failure. I'm a preach real good right now. I'm not gonna worry about what anybody thinks right now. If your success keeps you away from what God says are priorities in your life, your family, your children, you are a failure. It doesn't matter how much stuff you have.”

49s

#DevelopYourGift

“We have to understand that God is practical, and what we have to always understand is God gives us the gift. But what we do with the gift is our gift back to God. You need to develop your gift. You need to develop and when you do, guess what happens? Conversations are happening about you that you don't even know about. David was playing the harp. He had no idea somebody saw him. You know how you get noticed? Be faithful with your gift. Faithfulness is not just showing up, it's being prepared when you do. Some people will say, pastor, I'm here every single week. I know, but half the time you don't know what you're doing. See, what we have to understand is there are dimensions to faithfulness.”

39s

#RememberGodInSuccess

“Don't forget the Lord your God when you have eaten and are full. Stop. I think this qualifies for almost everybody. It goes on and says, and when your herds and your flocks multiply Well, let me say it to you this way, when your business is doing real good, and your silver and your gold multiply, or your bank account is fat, and you have multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, and when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, and you say in your heart, my power and my might, and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth, you shall remember that it is the Lord your God, for it is he that gives you the power to get wealth that he may establish his covenant.”

42s

#TrainingBeforeBreakthrough

“way. I must have not heard God, so on and so forth. See, we we think we control when God says it's time for the door to open. God is preparing you and some of y'all God may have a great plan for your life, but some of y'all need fifteen years of training. Some of y'all need fit. You know why? Because you had fifty years of all the wrong stuff, and God needs to train you because what God has for you, God wants to make sure it doesn't destroy you. And so God training you. Do not despise ordinary moments. David didn't understand that when he was carrying out a task, he was about to walk into his destiny. David understood that God hides destiny in routine faithfulness.”

38s

#RejectedByFamilyNotStrangers

“and there he is. He's keeping the sheep. And the first thing God develops in David is how to handle rejection. Because when Samuel arrives, David's not even in the house. David isn't even invited into the process. He's not considered a possibility. He's not even thought of someone who belongs. Jesse presents seven sons and David is not one of them. That means David wasn't rejected by strangers. He was rejected by the people who are supposed to care for him. And that hits different, doesn't it? That hits a little different when somebody you don't know, you don't really have any investment, doesn't reject. So you you could shake that off.”

61s

#GiftsNeedSkill

“Gifting is what God gives you. I got news for you. Everybody's gifted. Every person in this world is gifted. How do I know that? The Bible says that God has given gifts to everyone so that we can all do certain things well. God doesn't create junk. Every single person has a gift from God. Gifting is what God gives you. Skill is what happens when you are responsible responsible with with your your gift. Gift. And if all you do is stay gifted and never become skillful, First Samuel chapter 16 verse 14 says, but the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him. Then one of the servants answered and said, look, I have seen a a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing,”

33s

“See, it's before the giant shows up that God forms in us what it takes so that we can defeat the giant when it does. And I wanna show you today what God forms in every person so that we are ready for the assignment that he has for us. And so before your giant goes down, number one, you need to learn how to handle rejection. This is where your identity is tested. Let's go back to the painful part of the story. First Samuel chapter 16 verse 11, Samuel said to Jesse, are all the young men here? And then he said, there remains yet the youngest”

Ask a question about this sermon

FaithChurchCC & Frank Santora Ministries This sermon · AI assistant

How should Christians respond to deep rejection?

What does God value more, heart or appearance?

When is skillfulness necessary alongside spiritual anointing?