Dwight Fletcher | When life stacks the odds against you

There is something about an underdog that gets us every time. Think about the Fast & Furious movie franchise. For more than 20 years, we’ve watched movies where Dom Toretto and his family found themselves in situations where the odds seemed ridiculous. They were outnumbered, outgunned and usually being chased by somebody more powerful or resourceful than they were. Yet somehow, they kept finding a way to succeed.

We cheer for them because, if we are honest, most of us know what it feels like to be the underdog. Maybe you have looked at your finances and wondered how you are going to make it work. Maybe your career has stalled, and you cannot see a way forward.

Maybe there is a family situation that seems too complicated to fix, or a dream you’ve buried because reality keeps reminding you that it is probably not going to happen. Sometimes life backs us into a corner, and we feel like there is no way forward.

That is exactly where we find the Israelites in Judges 6. They were living in the Promised Land, but they were being oppressed by the Midianites. Whenever they planted crops, the Midianites would invade, steal what they had produced and destroy whatever was left. Eventually, the Israelites were driven into hiding in the mountains and caves.

The Bible says, “Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help” (Judges 6:6, NLT). There is something about being overwhelmed that exposes what we have been trusting. When everything is going well, it is easy to believe we are in control. We can rely on our salary, our connections, our education, our experience or our ability to figure things out. But when they fail us, we can decide to turn to a Source bigger than our problems.

When the Israelites cry out for help, God steps in and appoints a man named Gideon to lead the people in battle against their oppressors. And this story reminds us that even when the odds are stacked against us, God is still for us.

That does not mean we sit back and do nothing. Gideon would have a significant part to play in Israel’s deliverance. But his story makes it clear that the victory would never ultimately be about Gideon’s strength. In fact, God intentionally stacked the odds against Gideon and his army, so they would know He was the reason for their salvation (Judges 7:2).

So, if you’re experiencing your own impossible odds today, read the entire story of Gideon in Judges 6-8 and gain perspective. This judge was not a powerful military leader with an impressive résumé. He was an ordinary man living in an extraordinary crisis. Yet God would use him to change the fate of a nation.

That is good news when you feel under-resourced and overwhelmed. Your circumstances may be difficult. The numbers may not look good. You may not have the connections, money, experience or influence you think you need. But your limitations do not determine what God can do

The first step toward overcoming impossible odds is remembering Who you can call when you cannot fix things yourself. Cry out to God and watch Him deliver you. Then join us next week as we discuss the next step in overcoming impossible odds. Until then, have a blessed week.