Against the Odds
Judges 7:2 The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’”
We all love a good underdog story. Whether it is a movie like Rudy about a walk-on player who plays at Notre Dame or a movie about a boxer from Philadelphia named Rocky who overcomes all the odds to win a championship. There is something in us that comes to life and gets re-energized when we see or hear of such an underdog story.
When life is challenging and the odds are stacked against you, however, it is difficult to get excited and feel energized. When we are in a situation where we feel like the underdog, it can be easy to allow feelings of bitterness and defeat take over our thoughts and attitude.
In Judges chapter 7 Gideon was a true underdog. But this is exactly where God wanted him! Through God’s strength he defeated the odds and won a major battle for the people of Israel. We learn from this story that often times in life God will not change our situation but will instead grow our faith in Him in the midst of it. He will change us instead of our situation in those moments. God can use you right where you are today if you will obey Him and seek Him for strength.
Take some time this weekend to read through Judges 6-7 and learn of the story of Gideon. And remember, the confidence we have when the odds are against us Comes from God!
God Bless,
Mike