“The flesh sets its desire against the Spirit…” — Galatians 5:17
The road narrowed, hemmed in by cliffs on either side. And there, looming like sentinels of despair, stood three giants—Terrible, who stank of fear; Grim, whose brooding eyes froze the soul; and Scornful, who laughed with contempt at every forward step.
Sir Constant, though weary from his journey, gripped his sword tighter. He had heard of these giants. All who walked the Splendid Way faced them sooner or later. Many turned back. Others knelt in surrender.
But not this knight.
As the giants advanced, his own doubts whispered: “You are not ready. You are not worthy. You will fail.” But the knight remembered his vow. He raised the King’s sword and charged—not because he felt brave, but because retreat was no longer an option.
The battle was not won in one strike. It was a grind. Each blow of the giants tested his will. Each word from their mouths pierced deeper than their fists. But the sword—the Word of the King—did not fail him. (Inspired by Sir Knight of the Splendid Way)
The Hidden Giants Every Man Must Face
Sir Constant’s next challenge is not on a battlefield of nations, but within the silent territory of the soul. This is the battleground most men know all too well. It’s the late-night war behind tired eyes. It’s the silent battle waged in long drives, meetings, bedrooms, and backyards. And it’s here—within—that the fiercest enemies arise.
These giants—Terrible, Grim, and Scornful—are no ordinary enemies. They do not ride out with banners or blow war horns to announce their charge. No, they are far more subtle and dangerous. They whisper just before dawn. They glare from the shadows of past failures. They mock your resolve when no one else hears. And they wait at the narrowest point of the road, when you are most tired, most unsure, most alone—daring you to turn back.
Every man who walks the King’s road will face them. These giants are not avoidable—they are inevitable. They are not conjured from outside—they rise from within. And often, they bear different names:
Giant #1: Terrible — The Giant of Fear
Terrible becomes Anxiety, Panic, Dread. He lives in the “what ifs” and “maybes,” tightening the chest and clouding the mind. He is the cold sweat, the sudden spiral, the paralyzing voice that says, “You’re not enough.”
This giant stands at the edge of every leap of faith: starting a new job, confronting sin, leading your family, stepping into ministry. Terrible whispers worst-case scenarios until we’re paralyzed by the thought of failure. He hides behind false humility, disguising cowardice as caution. He keeps our prayers vague, our plans shelved, and our testimonies silent.
Giant #2: Grim — The Giant of Despair
Grim becomes Despair, Depression, Weariness. He walks slowly but heavily, weighing down every step. He tells you progress is pointless and convinces you that hope is just another word for disappointment.
Grim appears in the shadows of exhaustion and disappointment. He walks in when prayers seem unanswered, when spiritual routines feel dry, and when hope is thin. Grim is the voice that says, “You’re stuck. You’ll never change. You’ll never matter.” He distorts setbacks into verdicts and silence into abandonment.
Giant #3: Scornful — The Giant of Shame and Pride
Scornful becomes Shame, Pride, Insecurity. He laughs loudest. He taunts with reminders of past sin or failures, or tempts you to cover insecurity with arrogance. He builds his fortress on your self-doubt and feeds on comparison and criticism.
Scornful is the most cunning. He alternates between accusation and arrogance. One moment, he drags you down with shame: “Look at your past. You’re disqualified.” The next, he tempts you to cover insecurity with pride: “You’re better than them. At least you’re not like him.” He thrives on comparison, either making you feel worthless or puffed up.
These are not visible enemies. They rarely march in plain sight. Sometimes they are felt only in the burdens we never voice, in the expectations we never meet, in the masks we never take off. They grow stronger in isolation, in silence, in pride.
But like Sir Constant, if we are to walk the Splendid Way, we must not bypass the giants—we must name them, confront them, and overcome them. Not by might. Not by pride. But by the strength of the King, the truth of His Word, and the brotherhood of those who walk the path beside us.
These giants thrive in the shadows. But the light of the King’s road exposes them—and gives us what we need to fight back.
A Battle of Spirit vs Flesh
“For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh…” — Galatians 5:17 (NASB)
This battle is ancient. It doesn’t rage on a foreign field—it rages within every heart that belongs to Christ.
Paul describes it in Galatians: the desires of the flesh against the desires of the Spirit. The flesh says, “Retreat.” The Spirit says, “Advance.” The flesh says, “You’re not enough.” The Spirit says, “Christ is.” The flesh shouts fear, self-pity, and doubt. The Spirit declares courage, love, and hope.
But walking by the Spirit is not a feeling—it is a choice to follow the Spirit’s instruction. As Ephesians 6:17 reminds us, “take… the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” The Spirit does not lead with vague impressions, but with the sharp clarity of truth. When we walk by the Spirit, we obey the Spirit’s voice revealed in Scripture, and we wield the sword of the Word in our daily struggle.
The giants on the road are manifestations of that inner war.
Sir Constant, though weary and wounded, does not back down. He doesn’t argue with the giants. He presses forward. And in doing so, he discovers something every believer must learn:
“The power to defeat giants is not in the sword arm—it’s in the King’s strength.”
Slaying the Giants: The Biblical Way to Fight Back
We don’t slay these giants with brute strength or clever words. We overcome them first by arming ourselves with devotion :
1. To Truth
Each giant lies, but Scripture exposes their lies:
- Terrible says: “You’re not safe,” but God says: “I’ll be your light and salvation, I’ll defend you and you shall not be in fear or dread “(cf. Psalm 27:1).
- “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline.” — 2 Timothy 1:7
- Like Peter stepping onto the water, fear is defeated by fixing your eyes on the King.
- Grim says: “There’s no hope,” but God says: “Do not lose heart… our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16)
- “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” — Romans 15:13
- “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28
- Victory is not always flashy. Sometimes, it is simply refusing to quit.
- Scornful says: “You’re not worthy,” but God says: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
- “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” — 1 Peter 2:9
- Your worth isn’t in what you’ve done—or failed to do. It’s in the King.
2. Prayer—Prayer is not passive. It is an act of war. Jesus Himself prayed in the garden as He faced His greatest test. So must we.
3. Endurance—Sometimes the greatest victory is to keep walking. That’s what Sir Constant does. He presses forward. One step at a time.
4. Brotherhood—Giants isolate. They want you alone. But the King calls us into fellowship, into accountability, into brotherhood. “Bear one another’s burdens…” — Galatians 6:2
The second way we overcome is by focusing on replacing bad habits and thinking with good habits.
Sir Constant didn’t win by bravado—he won by obedience, focus, and faith. Likewise, our spiritual fight isn’t just about avoiding sin, but about replacing it with righteousness. Scripture doesn’t call us merely to empty our lives of evil—it calls us to fill them with what is good and godly.
This is the pattern laid out in Ephesians 4:25–32—the “put off / put on” pattern. For every sin we’re told to abandon, there is a godly action we are called to embrace. This is how real transformation happens.
Let’s apply this to the giants Sir Constant faced:
Giant #1: Terrible — Put Off Fear, Put On Truth & Courage
- Put Off: Lies, isolation, fear-driven silence
- Put On: Honesty, transparency, gospel-rooted courage
Application: When fear grips your heart, don’t hide—speak. Share your struggle. Open up in trusted fellowship. Fear shrinks in the light of truth.
Giant #2: Grim — Put Off Anger, Put On Grace & Forgiveness
- Put Off: Bitterness, coldness, vengeful thoughts
- Put On: Kindness, reconciliation, merciful speech
Application: When anger festers, pursue peace. Speak the truth in love. Choose grace. Forgiveness may feel costly—but the cost of unforgiveness is always greater.
Giant #3: Scornful — Put Off Corruption, Put On Edification
- Put Off: Sarcasm, gossip, jealousy, corrosive comparison
- Put On: Words of life, encouragement, generosity of spirit
Application: Replace envy with gratitude. Instead of comparing and mocking, celebrate and uplift. Your words can wound—or heal. Choose to build.
The Pattern of the Path
The road to victory isn’t just defensive—it’s active. We don’t merely reject sin; we replace it with holiness. The giants we face today may not swing axes or roar from the hills—but they still threaten our homes, our hearts, and our callings.
Like Sir Constant, we must fight with the truth, with courage, and with the sword of the Spirit.
Let us not be men who simply admire the armor—we must take it up and use it.
Think of this quote: “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.'” — Mary Anne Radmacher
Final Words: Giants Fall
Sir Constant defeated the giants not because he was strong—but because he trusted the King.
You will face giants. You may already be fighting one. But take courage: the King has gone before you. His strength is yours. His Spirit is in you.
And every time you stand your ground, speak truth, and take another step forward—you win a battle on the Splendid Way.
The Champion’s Challenge
- What giant are you facing today—Terrible, Grim, or Scornful?
- What lie is that giant speaking?
- What Scripture truth can you speak back?
- Who in your life needs help fighting their giant?
“The King’s road was never meant to be easy. It was meant to be victorious.”
By Jeremy Sprouse
Jeremy has been married to Erynn since August 1999. They are blessed with six children: Jaden, Isaiah, Isaac, Ean, Joseph, and Evelyn. Jeremy preaches for the Patrick St. church of Christ in Dublin, TX and is the author of To Train Up a Knight.
Knights of The Father 