Against All Odds

The Bible is full of people who had the odds stacked against them. It sometimes appeared that no matter how hard they tried to do everything they thought God was asking of them, things just never went their way! The odds kept stacking up against them. Job, Joseph, Moses, Tamar and Mary among others come to mind. They all chose a response.

What is our response when the odds are against us? “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Chuck Swindoll wrote: “One of the marks of spiritual maturity is the quiet confidence that God is in control, without the need to understand why He does what He does.” I would add, without the need to ask why He allows what He allows in our lives.

Maybe I am naïve in my relationship or perspective of God. However, God has proven Himself trustworthy too many times in my life to question whether He knows what is happening to me. As we saw in the letter to Smyrna, Jesus said “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.” Hold your ground. Don’t-give-up-and-don’t-give-in situation.

I must admit that I have often wondered how the people written about in the Bible or people written about in books did it! How did they keep standing, even when they stood alone? Think for a moment about the number of times when it looked like the perfect storm was converging against you.

What was your response? How did you overcome? Who helped you through it? Now think: how did you express your gratitude and to whom?

Trusting God despite the odds!