But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth.’”
– 1 Samuel 17:34 (NIV)
Greatness Starts in the Ordinary
Let’s talk real for a minute.
Everyone wants to be the person on the platform. The one leading the charge, slaying the giant, making headlines. But let’s get honest, that’s not how God works most of the time.
David didn’t wake up that morning thinking, “Today I’m going to make history.” Nope. He was just running an errand for his dad. A simple, unglamorous, boring task: deliver bread and cheese to his brothers on the battlefield. It wasn’t even his battle. He wasn’t even invited to fight.
But God had other plans.
Sometimes, your biggest breakthrough comes disguised as an ordinary day. It doesn’t come wrapped in a job promotion, a big speaking gig, or a flashy opportunity. It shows up in the form of obedience. A simple yes. A “I’ll go.” A “How can I help?”
David wasn’t chasing a crown. He was chasing faithfulness. And that’s what made him ready when the moment came.
God Builds Champions in the Fields, Not the Spotlight
Let’s back up. David didn’t just magically get good with a sling overnight. His aim wasn’t luck. His courage wasn’t a last-minute surge of adrenaline.
He was ready because he had been faithful when no one was watching. While his brothers were off fighting, David was in the fields, fighting lions and bears to protect his father’s sheep. That’s where his courage was forged. That’s where his skills were sharpened. That’s where his faith grew roots.
You want to know where champions are made? In the fields. In the unseen, uncelebrated places. While the world is busy chasing titles and trophies, God is looking for the ones who stay faithful in the shadows. The ones who show up when no one’s clapping. The ones who protect what’s in their care, no matter how small it seems.
David didn’t need a fancy suit or a king’s armor. He didn’t need a title or a platform. He just needed to be obedient with what was in his hand, a sling and a servant’s heart.
Don’t Despise the Snack Run
Let me say it louder for the people in the back: Don’t despise the snack run.
Some of you are so focused on getting to the battlefield that you’re missing the significance of the delivery.
David’s story would have never happened if he had refused the errand. If he’d said, “That’s beneath me. I’m not a delivery boy, I’m a future king.”
God elevates the ones who are willing to serve without recognition. The ones who’ll bring the snacks, mop the floors, make the calls, show up early, and stay late. The ones who don’t need applause to stay obedient.
Your “snack run” season is not a waste. It’s where God is building your character, testing your faithfulness, and preparing you for what’s next.
Faithfulness First, Fame Later
Everybody wants the fame. Nobody wants the faithfulness.
We live in a world that celebrates instant results. Viral videos. Overnight success. But let me tell you, God doesn’t play by TikTok trends. He plays the long game.
David was anointed king years before he ever wore the crown. And even after he killed Goliath, it wasn’t an instant promotion. He had to serve Saul, dodge spears, run for his life, and wait. And wait. And wait some more.
Why? Because God was still working on him.
Just because you’ve been anointed doesn’t mean you’re appointed. Just because you have a calling doesn’t mean you get to skip the process.
God develops leaders in the waiting room. In the quiet seasons. In the fields and the caves, not just on the battlefield.
Your Weapon Is in Your Hands
David didn’t borrow a sword. He didn’t try to squeeze into Saul’s armor. He used what he knew. What he had practiced. What God had already given him.
Stop looking for someone else’s weapon. Stop waiting for permission to fight your giant. Use what’s in your hand, your skill, your experience, your testimony, your passion. That’s your sling. That’s your stone.
God is not waiting for you to have a perfect resume. He’s waiting for you to say yes. He’s waiting for you to step onto the battlefield with what you have and trust Him to do the rest.
Giants Don’t Fall by Accident
Let’s be clear: Goliath didn’t trip and fall. He didn’t get bored and wander off. He was taken down by a kid who was ready because he had been preparing in the private.
The battles you fight in secret are what prepare you for the giants you face in public.
That struggle you’re in right now? The late nights. The hard days. The tasks that feel small and unimportant. They are shaping you. They are sharpening you. They are making you dangerous to the enemy.
Don’t waste the season you’re in because it doesn’t look like what you expected.
God Uses the Willing, Not Just the Ready
Here’s the wild part: David didn’t show up to fight. He wasn’t even trained as a soldier. He showed up to deliver food.
But when the opportunity came, he didn’t shrink back. He stepped up. He said, “I’ll go.”
God doesn’t just use the ready, He uses the willing. The ones who say yes. The ones who don’t need all the details, just a word from God and the courage to move.
You don’t need a title to lead. You don’t need a stage to make a difference. You just need to be willing to step into the moment when it comes.
A Final Word for the Ones in the Field
You might feel like you’re just delivering snacks right now. Just doing the small things. Just keeping the sheep.
But let me tell you, you are being prepared.
God sees your faithfulness. He sees your heart. He sees how you show up when no one’s watching. And when the moment comes, He will call your name.
So keep showing up. Keep bringing the snacks. Keep watching the sheep. Because the moment you’ve been praying for might show up on an ordinary day.
David didn’t kill Goliath in a suit. He killed him with a sling he had practiced with in the fields, after a snack run nobody else wanted.
That’s how God works.
Your Goliath moment is coming.
Will you be ready?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the reminder that the small things matter. That faithfulness in the little things is where You build champions. Help me to stay humble, obedient, and willing to serve, even when it feels like no one is watching.
Give me the courage to say yes when my moment comes. Help me not to chase titles or platforms, but to chase Your heart.
I trust that You are using my “snack runs” to prepare me for bigger things. And I choose to stay ready, so when the giant shows up, I can step up in faith.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
God bless, and let’s keep Him first in everything we do.
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Dan Greer