We face tough odds all the time. But who cares when God is on our side?
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As a high school math instructor, one of the topics that I cover in some of my classes is probability, or setting the odds. Probability can be defined as the numerical likelihood that a given event will actually occur. It seems inevitable that a true Christian is going to frequently face battles throughout their lifetime where the odds are against them.
Part of it is due to the fact that true Christians are overwhelmingly outnumbered in the world—in the neighborhood of 50,000 to one. We face a multitude of situations in which the worldly, mathematical odds are definitely against us. This can be very discouraging. So discouraging that we can be tempted to try to improve the odds by compromising our beliefs, lowering our standards and rationalizing to make ourselves an exception to God’s laws. In times like these and so many others, when the human odds are truly against us, we need to keep a Godly perspective in mind.
1. Don’t ever be intimidated by the odds!
Be strong, of good courage and don’t be afraid to battle hard just because the odds are against you. The odds only predict the outcome. They don’t determine the outcome. Even in worldly circumstances, we find examples of heroic battles against overwhelming odds. Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, “Whatsoever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might,” in spite of what the odds might say, because later in verse 11, we read, “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong...nor favor to men of skill.”
2. Having God on your side is better than having the odds on your side.
Historically, we can be greatly encouraged by just a few of the many biblical examples where God intervened when His people faced long odds. For example, what were the odds that Gideon and a small band of 300 men would be able to rout multiple thousands of Midianites? Or what were the odds that Hezekiah and his people would be able to withstand the massive Assyrian army that was poised to attack Jerusalem? Who can forget the story of Elisha and his servant when they were surrounded by the Syrian army? Elisha told his servant, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). Don’t look to the physical odds, look to the spiritual odds. In all of these situations, the odds of these events happening in the way that they did without God’s intervention would be unbelievably astronomical!
3. Obey God, even if you have to accept the outcome predicted by the odds.
In Daniel chapter 2, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew that the odds of surviving the fiery furnace were severely set against them. But they didn’t break God’s commandments, even though it could have meant losing their lives! As they stated in Daniel 3:17-18, they knew that the God that they served was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace, but even if He chose not to deliver them (and they therefore had to accept the outcome predicted by the odds), they were still resolved not to worship the gold image or serve other gods.
4. When the odds are against us, we have the opportunity to demonstrate faith.
Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). One of the ways that Christians today are tested is in matters that have to do with jobs, wages and finances. Peter wrote that the genuineness of our faith is more precious than gold (1 Peter 1:6). God desires to give us every good and every perfect gift, especially when we are working hard to multiply the talents that he has given us and follow his commands.
In our society today, the numbers are against us and a true Christian will face difficult odds and predicaments. But that’s not a reason to be discouraged or intimidated. The key is to courageously and faithfully stay committed to God no matter what the odds! Jesus tells us that, “with God, all things are possible.” So if God is for us, who cares about the odds against us?
