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Surprisingly, the people paid only $1 were the most convincing in saying the task was enjoyable. Why? Because $1 wasn’t enough to justify lying. Their brains experienced a conflict—they knew the task was boring, but they had told someone it was fun. To resolve that inner tension, they convinced themselves that the task actually was interesting.
On the other hand, the people paid $20 didn’t experience much tension—the money itself justified the lie. Cognitive dissonance is basically that uncomfortable mental tug-of-war we feel when our actions and beliefs don’t match.
This study is powerful because it shows how our minds naturally try to make sense of the choices we make—even if it means bending our perception of reality. It reminds me to check when I’m justifying decisions that go against my values or what I know God is saying to me.
It made me curious. Again, cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort or tension we feel when we hold two conflicting beliefs, values, or behaviors at the same time. Basically, it’s when what we believe doesn’t match what we do, and our brain feels uneasy until we find a way to resolve it.
For example: Someone says they want to live a healthy lifestyle, but eats fast food every night. That inner conflict creates cognitive dissonance—because their actions don’t align with their beliefs. To reduce the discomfort, they might: Change their behavior: start eating healthier. Or change their belief: convince themselves fast food isn’t that bad. They then justify it with, “I work hard, so I deserve this burger.
Sounds familiar?
Saul himself suffered from this. When we compare Saul and David, we don’t just see two kings—we see two kinds of leaderships and two very different postures of the heart.
I’ve gotta say—I really vibe with David’s story. But Saul? I just can’t wrap my head around it. I mean, come on—he had to know he wasn’t gonna be king forever!
My husband sees it differently—he says David’s story is really about being planted in the wrong community. Yes, David was positioned to be king, but he never should have stayed so close to Saul’s house and Saul’s people. Instead of pouring himself into that environment, he could have been building his own. If he had, the attacks against him might not have cut so deeply, because he wouldn’t have been relying on the wrong circle in the first place.
Saul: As Leader in His Position
But he was chosen as Israel’s first king. The people of Israel begged for a king so they could be “like other nations” (1 Samuel 8). God allowed it and chose Saul. He had the looks, the stature, and the people’s approval (1 Samuel 9:2).
He started out with every advantage in the book. Tall, handsome, and striking (1 Samuel 9:2) — Saul looked like a king.
He had the presence, the stature, the outer package that made people nod and say, “Yep, that’s him.” But inside? Different story. He wrestled with himself. See, being the first at anything is never easy — especially being the very first king of Israel.
There was no blueprint, no mentor to call, no "King’s Guide to Leading a Nation" manual lying around. Who do you even ask for advice when you are the precedent?
And that pressure… it eats at you. The battles, the criticism, the constant weight of expectation — it can turn a heart sour. Pain can harden you, make you bitter, less willing to cheer on the one coming after you. Instead of passing the baton, you grip it tighter. You get mad.
You get defensive. And Saul?
Fear, insecurity, pride — they all tag-teamed him until he lost himself. Simply put, the crown didn’t just sit on his head… it started messing with it.
He spiraled.
Saul started strong. In the beginning, Saul led with courage—defeating the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11). But he disobeyed God’s direct instructions. In 1 Samuel 13, Saul was told to wait for Samuel to offer the sacrifice. Instead, he grew impatient and did it himself.
Samuel told him: “You have done a foolish thing… now your kingdom will not endure” (1 Samuel 13:13–14).
In 1 Samuel 15, Saul was commanded to completely destroy the Amalekites and their possessions. Instead, he spared King Agag and the best livestock, excusing it as “sacrifice for the Lord.” Samuel confronted him: “To obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).
Another classic example of cognitive dissonance...“I am obeying God as king.” He only half-obeyed God’s instructions (1 Samuel 15). That’s cognitive dissonance—convincing yourself you’re right even when your actions contradict your values.
Saul was casual with the things of God. He obeyed halfway. He feared the people’s opinions more than God’s commands. He made excuses instead of repenting. That’s why God said He had rejected Saul as king.
In 1 Samuel 15:24, "I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them." That’s straight-up confession—Saul was more concerned with pleasing people than obeying God.
Now, what really chills me about this story is that as I was reading it, I could see myself in it. There have been moments in my own life when I gave in to people’s opinions and, in doing so, disobeyed what I knew God had instructed me to do.
And David… David’s story began in the shadows. When the prophet Samuel came to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as king, David wasn’t even invited to the lineup. His father left him outside with the sheep. His brothers, taller and stronger, looked more like royalty.
David wasn’t out here hunting for a crown or trying to take anyone down. He was just living his life, following God’s call, minding his own business, and honestly, probably thinking, “I’m good right here with my sheep.” And can I just say? I get that. I’m a chill person myself—I like to relax, sip my tea, and let life flow without all the drama.
But God said to Samuel:
"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." (1 Samuel 16:7)
David was handpicked by God. Again, God is never casual about destiny. When David emerged. He was a warrior who killed Goliath and brought victory to Israel, the people sang:
"Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." (1 Samuel 18:7)
Those words pierced Saul’s pride. Instead of celebrating the victories God was giving Israel, Saul’s heart grew bitter. Jealousy took root. Scripture says, “So Saul eyed David from that day on” (1 Samuel 18:9). From that moment, Saul’s leadership turned destructive.
Saul’s heart wasn’t truly after God. What was wrong with killing a thousand. Maybe that was all he faced because of the time he lived. A Thousand may have been twenty thousand for his 👋 day because he left no stone unturned. Or maybe he faced a really difficult enemy. Ten thousand may have been just half the men.
Maybe during his time killing a thousand was extraordinary. Yet, instead of rationalizing the facts, he cared more about looking like a king than being one in God’s eyes.
Saul jealousy consume him. He hurled spears at David, plotted against him, and hunted him down. Saul spent his energy trying to destroy someone who was actually fighting for him.
The Cave Season
When Saul turned on him, David was shocked. It caught him off guard so much that he was driven into caves. This was not the kingly life he imagined when Samuel anointed him. He was chosen, but now he was hiding. Anointed, but on the run. I can imagine he was confused and it took him a minute to realize that Samuel was trying to destroy him.
It was in those caves that David wrote some of the most powerful Psalms. His cries echo through history:
"I cry out to the LORD; I plead for the LORD’s mercy.
I pour out my complaints before him
and tell him all my troubles." (Psalm 142:1–2, written from a cave)
What was David's cognitive dissonance?
He saw Saul as still “the Lord’s anointed.” David believed it was wrong to harm him, even when Saul was in the wrong. In the cave at En Gedi (1 Samuel 24), David sneaks up and cuts off a corner of Saul’s robe instead of killing him. Then he feels guilty even about that small act:
"The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." (1 Samuel 24:6)
Think about it: On one hand, Saul was his enemy. On the other hand, David kept calling him “my master, my father, the Lord’s anointed.”. David was holding two clashing truths in his heart.
Instead of justifying killing Saul (which would’ve been easy to rationalize as self-defense), David resolved the conflict by choosing obedience to God over emotion. He kept reminding himself: “It’s not my place to take Saul down—God will handle it.”
One might say David, however, displayed a different kind of leadership. Though Saul pursued him like an enemy, David never dishonored him, demonstrating God's love and treated him with deep respect.
David seemed a little irritated with God too, but he knew he needed God. I mean what do you think he was thinking when he wrote Psalm 139:7–12:
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
This is one of my favorite passages. Many scholars think this particular psalm was written during a period of personal reflection, likely when David was feeling both the weight of God’s presence and the pressures of life—possibly while he was being pursued by enemies, right before his kingship. Can you imagine being promised a throne and right before it you are running away for your life. I am sure there was some anguish there.
The Silence of His Brothers
Dr. King used this phrase in reference to the Civil Rights Movement, but he says, In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
What this means is our enemies, opponents, or critics often voice their opposition openly. Their negativity is expected. You can prepare for it, confront it, or even ignore it. But friendships- that wound cuts through deeply. And friends’ silence can wound more deeply.
Another striking detail is the absence of David’s brothers. They were described as strong, masculine, and outwardly kingly. Yet when Saul raged against David, we don’t see them stepping in. David faced the caves and the spears largely alone.
The people we trust—the ones we think will stand with us, defend us, or speak truth—carry influence over our hearts. When they remain silent in moments of injustice, betrayal, or difficulty, their absence of support can feel like a deeper wound than attacks from adversaries. That is a hurtful thing to experience. Sometimes the pain of that trauma takes you a minute to overcome. I truly believe that was what Job experienced when he’s asking “why” over and over again and David when he was driven into what I recognized as depression.
When someone is suffering—emotionally, spiritually, or professionally—the family and friends’ that love them will rally around them to support.
Another striking detail is the absence of David’s brothers. They were described as strong, masculine, and outwardly kingly. Yet when Saul raged against David, we don’t see them stepping in. David faced the caves and the spears largely alone.
But being underestimated forced David to lean on God.
David, on the other hand, was not perfect. He had failures of his own later in life too. But what made him “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22) was his willingness to repent, his humility, and his reverence for God’s order. Maybe if David had repented and said, "God I am sorry for disobeying you". He would have saved his legacy.
And while the people who should have protected David were silent—God never was.
In my opinion, this story is really a reminder to accept what God allows.
Was Saul ever meant to last as king?
He was the people’s choice. God simply gave Israel what they were begging for, and Saul became the living example that sometimes the thing you think you want turns out to be the very thing that teaches you a hard lesson.
Saul worked hard, but he was restless, insecure, and bitter. Instead of going back to God to ask, “What’s next for me?” he let jealousy eat him alive. That’s where he messed up.
David, on the other hand, was different. He was a king after God’s own heart because no matter what, he stayed aligned with God. He couldn’t be persuaded away from God’s presence—even if it meant dancing out of his clothes in pure worship. David simply refused to let people, pressure, or position move him from obedience.
But I think God remembered Saul, so He didn’t make it easy for David. David had to go through trials before becoming king—and he still had to do it God’s way. That shows God is fair and just.
And that’s where it hits home for us—sometimes the path to your calling won’t look glamorous. It might feel hidden, misunderstood, or downright unfair. But those “cave seasons” are where God strengthens your heart, sharpens your faith, and prepares you for the throne He already has with your name on it.
A Devotional on Repentance: Choosing God Over Man
Today, let’s pause and come before God with open hearts. Father, we ask You to forgive us for the times we chose man’s opinion over Your voice. Forgive us for the moments we justified our choices, ignored Your leading, or convinced ourselves that “this is fine” when we knew it wasn’t.
Lord, too often we operate in cognitive dissonance—knowing what is right in You but bending our hearts to fit what feels easier, safer, or more popular. We rationalize, we compromise, we settle. Forgive us. Cleanse our minds and hearts from the confusion and the self-deception that keeps us from walking fully in Your will.
Help us, Father, to listen more closely to Your voice than the crowd around us. Teach us to discern Your direction, trust Your timing, and obey even when it’s uncomfortable or unpopular. Strengthen our faith so that we don’t just hear Your Word, but we live it boldly, without apology or compromise.
Today, we choose repentance. We choose humility. We choose alignment with You over the fleeting approval of man. Restore our hearts, Lord, and prepare us for the calling You have for us—knowing that Your ways are higher, Your plans are perfect, and Your love never fails.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Xoxo,
Dr. Jordan, CEO
