There's Still a Giant in You

So often, we celebrate dramatic stories of salvation, but once someone is “in,” we expect perfection and hide our struggles. This culture of silence and judgment in the church can paralyze us, making us feel as if our failures or hardships disqualify us from God’s purpose. Yet, the truth is that God does not write us off because of our mistakes, our age, or our circumstances. Through the stories of David, Peter, and Sarah, we see that God’s purpose persists, even when we feel disqualified or finished.

David, once a giant-killer and king, fell into deep sin and humiliation. He made choices that hurt others and himself, and even lost the loyalty of those closest to him. Yet, when confronted by the prophet Nathan, God’s word to David was not condemnation, but restoration: “The Lord has put away your sin; you shall not die.” Despite his failures, David still had giants to kill—his purpose was not over.

Peter, too, experienced public failure. Though he was in Jesus’ inner circle, he denied Christ three times and was left humiliated and broken. But Jesus, after the resurrection, sought Peter out and restored him, asking three times, “Do you love me?”—one for each denial. Jesus entrusted Peter again with the care of His people, and Peter went on to preach powerfully, leading thousands to faith. His greatest work was still ahead.

Sarah’s story reminds us that even when it seems too late—when the womb is barren, when hope is gone—faith can still birth something new. At ninety, after years of disappointment, Sarah received the promise and gave birth to Isaac. It was not her goodness or her past that qualified her, but faith in God’s ability to do the impossible.

No matter what has happened, no matter how others have judged you or how you have judged yourself, God has not written you off. There is still a giant in you—something extraordinary that God wants to do through you. Don’t let your past, your failures, or your circumstances define your future. God’s purpose for you remains, and your best days are still ahead if you have the faith to believe it.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Purpose Survives Our Failures David’s story shows that even after grave mistakes and public humiliation, God’s purpose for our lives is not canceled. The Lord’s forgiveness is not just about erasing guilt, but about restoring us to our calling. Even when others have written us off, God still has giants for us to kill—there is still meaningful work ahead. [07:52]
• 2. Restoration Is Personal and Intentional Peter’s restoration was not generic; Jesus sought him out specifically, addressing his failure and reaffirming his purpose. True restoration involves both honest confrontation and loving recommissioning. God does not merely forgive; He entrusts us again with responsibility, showing that our failures do not disqualify us from future fruitfulness. [13:58]
• 3. Faith Can Birth the Impossible, Regardless of Circumstance Sarah’s barren womb was a symbol of impossibility, yet faith put something in her that nature could not. Our limitations—age, disappointment, or past pain—do not limit God’s ability to bring forth new life and purpose. Faith is not about deserving, but about trusting God to do what only He can do. [18:24]
• 4. Don’t Let Others’ Judgments or Your Own Regret Define You The tendency to judge or to hide our struggles creates a culture where people shrink back from their calling. We must resist the urge to let shame, regret, or the opinions of others dictate our sense of purpose. God’s voice is the one that matters, and He says you still have a giant in you. [20:41]
• 5. Your Best Days and Greatest Impact May Still Be Ahead Whether you feel disqualified by failure, age, or circumstance, God’s pattern is to use those who seem finished to do extraordinary things. The past does not have to be the high point of your story; with faith, your most significant contributions may yet be to come. Stand up, step forward, and trust that God’s purpose in you is not over.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:37] - Stewardship of Struggles
• [01:22] - The Culture of Perfection and Silence
• [02:31] - The Paralysis of Failure
• [02:57] - Introducing David’s Journey
• [04:17] - David’s Fall and Humiliation
• [06:38] - Nathan’s Confrontation and God’s Mercy
• [08:58] - David’s Purpose Restored
• [10:00] - Peter’s Privilege and Failure
• [11:59] - Peter’s Humiliation and Restoration
• [13:58] - Jesus Recommissions Peter
• [15:26] - Standing Up After Failure
• [16:51] - Sarah’s Disappointment and Barrenness
• [18:24] - Faith Births the Impossible
• [20:41] - Don’t Write Yourself Off
• [21:35] - Prayer for Restoration and Purpose
• [23:13] - Giving and Ministry Support
• [25:06] - Grace Groups and Final Encouragement

Bible Study Discussion Guide

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Bible Reading

1. 2 Samuel 12:13-14 (ESV)

> David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”

1. John 21:15-17 (ESV)

> When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

1. Romans 4:18-21 (ESV)

> In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

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Observation Questions

1. What was Nathan’s message to David after his sin with Bathsheba, and how did God respond to David’s repentance? (2 Samuel 12:13-14; [06:38])
2. How did Jesus restore Peter after his denial, and what did Jesus ask Peter three times? (John 21:15-17; [12:30])
3. According to Romans 4, what was Sarah’s situation, and what role did faith play in her story? ([17:51])
4. In the sermon, what are some ways people in the church respond to others’ failures or struggles? ([02:31])

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Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God chose to restore David and Peter instead of replacing them with someone “better”? What does this say about God’s character? ([07:52])
2. How does the repeated question “Do you love me?” to Peter relate to his earlier denial, and what does this teach about restoration? ([13:17])
3. What does Sarah’s story show us about God’s timing and our sense of being “too late” for God to use us? ([18:24])
4. The sermon mentions a “culture of silence and judgment” in the church. How might this culture affect people’s willingness to be honest about their struggles? ([02:31])

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Application Questions

1. The sermon says, “God has not written you off, David, in spite of the stupid decisions that you made, in spite of the things that you’ve done, in spite of what people think about you and the fact that many of them have turned against you, even those in your family.” ([07:52])

- Is there a failure or regret in your life that makes you feel disqualified from God’s purpose? How does this story challenge that feeling?

1. When Peter was restored, Jesus didn’t just forgive him—He gave him responsibility again. ([13:58])

- Have you ever felt like you couldn’t serve or lead because of your past? What would it look like to step forward in faith, trusting God’s restoration?

1. The sermon says, “Sarah still had a giant to give. Even though it says her womb was dead, even though it says that her womb was barren, like the desert, didn’t have anything in it. Faith put something in it.” ([18:24])

- Where in your life do you feel “barren” or hopeless? What would it mean to trust God for something new in that area?

1. The message warns against letting “shame, regret, or the opinions of others dictate our sense of purpose.” ([20:41])

- Are there voices—your own or others’—that you need to stop listening to so you can move forward in God’s purpose?

1. The pastor said, “You haven’t done your best work yet. I don’t care what’s happened in the past. You haven’t had your best idea yet. You haven’t made your best decision yet, because you still have a giant in you.” ([16:09])

- What is one area where you want to believe your best days are still ahead? What step could you take this week to act on that belief?

1. The sermon talks about the danger of a “culture of perfection and silence” in the church. ([01:22])

- How can our group or church become a safer place for people to share struggles and receive support?

1. The pastor prayed, “Father, where we have failed, where we are strayed, where we have messed up, Father, we repent and we ask you to forgive us.” ([21:58])

- Is there something you need to bring to God in repentance today, trusting that He restores and recommissions you?

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