When the odds are stacked against you
Are you facing a seemingly impossible situation where the odds are heavily stacked against you? Perhaps it’s a situation so dire that everyone, from experts to those around you, are saying you’re doomed to fall or fail? You’d be wise to chew on this portion of Scripture which Pastor Lian shared on Sunday.
Romans 4:18-21 (NIV)
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been asked to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead - since he was about a hundred years old - and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.
“Against all hope” - In Singlish, this is called “super jialat,” or in Hokkien, “bo kiu liao,” meaning “no hope already.” But did Abraham give up on what God has promised him, which was that he would be a father of many nations? No! The Bible says “Against all hope, Abraham IN HOPE BELIEVED - AND SO became the father of many nations.
Pastor Lian shared that Abraham did not dispute the facts that he was already a hundred years old and his wife Sarah was barren with “a shelf life that was supposed to be over.” Eventually, Sarah birthed forth Isaac. What we can learn here is to face the facts in whatever situation we are in - but we don’t have to allow the facts or odds to affect our hope in a God who does not disappoint (Rom 5:5).
Our ministry leader added that the Bible says, “Faith the substance of things hoped for (Heb 11:1). You must have hope then you can have faith. Hope is not denying the facts. Abraham accepted the fact he was 100 years old. It’s true but it is not the truth. The truth is found in God’s Word which says, what God promised He is also able to perform! That’s Bible truth!
Want more Bible truths? Ephesians 3:20 says, “God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you can ask or think!” And Romans 8:28 says God will make all things - good and bad - work together for your good!
