Stand Against The Odds

Life is full of struggle, some bigger than others. These struggles challenge you in many ways unimaginable. One day you feel as though you can overcome them, andat another instance, you may feel as though the world has crushed you. Have you ever asked yourself why do you even bother to fight? I did and here’s why you should fight to stand against the odds. Your life, the future of your descendants, your community, and your country depend on it.

The Philistine’s army and their champion giant named Goliath was against King Saul and his army.

There was a young man named David who attended sheep for his father. He had three brothers who were following Saul’s army.

One day David’s father told him to go to the battle’s camp and deliver food for his brothers and to report how they were doing. When he arrived at the camp, he got distracted by Goliath shouting his usual cry, “Choose you a man for you and let him come down to me. If he is able to fight with me and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then you shall be our servants, and serve us.”

One morning the armies were fighting and David decided that he would return to the battlefield. When Saul and his army heard from Goliath they became fearful. David went to Saul and said, “Let no man lose heart, because of this giant, your servant will go and fight him.”

Saul doubted what David had said. David boasted of how he had killed a lion and a bear, and the Lord who has rescued him from their paws will rescue him from the hands of this Philistine. Saul told David to go and the Lord be with him. He placed his armor on David which was too big and had not been tried by David, so David took it off.

When Goliath saw David, that pissed him off greatly. He asked, “Am I a dog that you come to me with staves? Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.” David replied, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head.” As the giant moved closer to attack David, David ran quickly toward him to face him. David defeated him with a sling and a stone.

All the odds were against David. He was small, compared to the giant he faced. In bravery, he ran toward the giant. In the end, David won the victory.

When the Philistines saw that their hero Goliath was dead, they turned and ran.

It is amazing how at times the odds are against us, and we act in a way that is not in our character. David always found a way to communicate with God, not only through songs but also prayer. One of David’s prayer found in Psalm 25 says, “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

How do one stand against the odds? Here are some helpful tips:

1. Acknowledge your reality. It may seem overwhelming that you lost your job and have five (5) children to raise; maybe your spouse decided to walk out on you after giving birth to your first baby; perhaps you lost your house or business to a devastating fire; or you may have to travel abroad for work, leaving your family behind; you may be a victim of racial or gender discrimination. Accept the reality of your circumstance, and the decisions that must be made.

2. Don’t react based on what you see. When the odds are against you, be strong, because your enemy will attempt to make you panic or fearful. Your view can be clouded with uncertainty, intimidation, or fear. God understands our tendency to doubt, but this does not move him to work on your behalf. You must possess courage, love, and a sound mind.

3. Choose your battles wisely. Be careful to analyze situations carefully, and maturely. You can make foolish mistakes or decisions out of anger, and not consider how it will affect others. Ask yourself if it is worth fighting for? “If you’re not careful, the media will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.” Malcolm X

4. Keep standing You must keep in mind that your enemy is always seeking opportunities to defeat you. The enemy tries to destroy you with your trials, while on the other hand, God seeks to develop you. Ephesians 6:12 NIV says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” You are in a war zone – life is a spiritual fight, and YOU MUST WIN!

5. Depend on God. You may look back at past events or situations and how you dealt with them. The temptation to use the same approach can set you up to fail. God’s will is ultimately best, and you should rely on his plan for every circumstance.

David did not think for a moment that the battle was not his to fight. He recognized the effect the Philistines had on the Israelites although he was not in the army.

Are you a leader who can impact change, but sit and say that it’s not your problem? David had a legitimate excuse to not stand up against the odds, but he stood anyway. He was a young boy attending sheep who had no skill in fighting wars. He found the courage to stand, not because of his brothers were a part of the battle, but he saw an opportunity to embrace change; a moment where God would be glorified through his faith. Let your faith rise, as you stand against the odds.