Have you ever been to a professional sports tournament? Having been to several, I can safely say that the experience is different depending on who you are and the type of ticket you hold.

I once took my oldest son to see his favorite basketball player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, play against the Orlando Magic. We had general admission tickets and stood outside in a long line for quite some time waiting to go through security. When we finally made it inside the arena, we bought two bags of popcorn and two bottles of water for about $230 (slight exaggeration), then made our way to the middle stands to settle into our hard seats. Other patrons had to step over us to get to their seats, so we were regularly faced with strangers’ backsides or bellies as they scooted down the row.

It was a very different world when my husband and I were invited to sit courtside at an Oklahoma City Thunder game. First, we were offered special VIP parking in a garage right next to the arena. Then instead of waiting in line, we walked up to a special VIP entrance where our things were quickly passed through an X-ray machine. After the twenty seconds that took, security escorted us to a private lounge where a James Beard Award–winning chef had prepared the meal for the evening. Drinks of all types were free and plentiful, and when it was time for the game, security escorted us to our plush seats. When the game ended, we were escorted to a private exit, where we climbed into our car and left without fighting traffic.

When I was on the Oklahoma City Thunder’s VIP list, I experienced a number of amazing perks because of the price that was paid for my ticket. But as amazing as those perks were, they don’t begin to compare to the perks of being on God’s VIP list. Unlike any VIP list created by a human being, God’s VIP list is not based on wealth or celebrity. It is simply based on the condition of your heart.

After the prophet Samuel asked Jesse to have his sons pass before him, the first son he saw was the eldest, Eliab. When Samuel looked at Eliab’s outward appearance, he was convinced that Eliab was God’s next chosen king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:6). He was undoubtedly attractive and probably even had some of the features that made King Saul stand out (1 Samuel 9:2). He looked royal, but he was far from it. God told Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Even though Eliab was pleasing to Samuel’s eye and his name was on Samuel’s VIP list, it was David who was pleasing to God’s heart and had his name on God’s VIP list. God chose David because he was the fulfillment of 1 Samuel 13:14: he was a man after God’s own heart. God didn’t choose David because man had chosen him. God chose David to prove that God’s opinion is the only one that matters.

After Samuel had met seven of Jesse’s sons, the Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:10–11,

“The LORD has not chosen these.” So [Samuel] asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

I imagine this moment was pregnant with frustration as Jesse and his sons were forced to stand and wait for someone they had not even invited to the sacrifice.

So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” (1 Samuel 16:12)

Samuel was impressed by David’s physical appearance, but it wasn’t his physical appearance that qualified him in the eyes of God. God saw what Samuel couldn’t see.

So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David. (1 Samuel 16:13)

Pay close attention to something. The Bible says Samuel anointed David in the presence of his brothers. Samuel anointed David in the presence of the people who had left him out in a field tending sheep by himself while their father invited them to have an audience with God’s prophet. Everything God does is purposeful, and when I consider this scene, I believe the reason why God had Samuel anoint David in the presence of the people who had rejected him was because God wanted to teach David and his family an important truth.

No matter who overlooks you, abandons you, or leaves you in a field by yourself tending sheep, when God is for you, no one can oppose you. When God is for you, the people who rejected you will have to watch him promote you. When God is for you, the favor of God will make your enemies your audience.

The manager who denied your promotion, only to have their boss promote you anyway because of your impressive record of impact.

The guy who broke up with you over text and now has to watch you walk down the aisle with his college friend who asked you to marry him.

The teacher who told you that you would never be anything but then showed up to your book signing and asked you to sign their copy.

That last one happened to me. I couldn’t help but thank God that he has the final say in my life. And he has the final say in your life too!

Many people love to quote Psalm 23 to remind themselves that God is faithful in trials and tribulations. Pay special attention to verse 5, which says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” When you learn to see rejection as a gift, you will realize that the people who rejected you are simply the audience for whom God is preparing the table of your purpose. Instead of lamenting who rejected you, praise God for what he is preparing because of them!

What God created you to do is not dependent on the acceptance of other people.

While people can reject you, no one can reject your purpose. Your purpose is never hindered by someone who walks away from you. Your purpose is never hindered by a situation that didn’t work out for you. Instead of blocking your future, the gift of rejection simply reveals the end of some people’s roles in your destiny.