When the Odds Are Against You

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is in the book of Judges, chapter 7, to be exact. It tells about Gideon who would go into battle against a formidable army with merely 300 soldiers. What a victory it was. But wait a minute, victory was only part of the story. Before the victory, He had to deal with the odds against him.

Before we go on, let me ask you a question. Have you ever felt backed into a corner, with the odds stacked against you? Too often, Christ followers fail to recognize that it actually may be God who is orchestrating their circumstances. 

I know what you’re thinking, “No way, Pastor Rick! God is supposed to protect me from such things. It’s the devil or the world foisting this situation on me.” That may be the case. But don’t discount the thought that God allowed you to be, or put you to be, in your situation to, first, get your attention.

Throughout the Bible, there is story after story that confirms this; the Lord used difficulties to build up a person’s faith. It’s easy to trust in the Lord when we motor through life with little difficulty, right? So I’m proposing that God will often remove our comfort and false securities to get our attention, and to remind us that He is the true source of our strength and spiritual vitality.

Back to our story. Gideon led an army of 32,000 men. But God stepped in and two different times, whittled the army down over 99%. Talk about being backed into a corner with the odds stacked against you! To defeat the Midianite army with 300 men seems impossible. But that’s the point. 300 men alone could not do it, but the Lord could.

When your security is stripped away — your money, success, friends, et al — stand your ground and stay focused on the Lord. When all is stripped away, you’ll be amazed what God can do!

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13