Against all odds...

         ​I watched intently as water rushed quickly and forcefully downstream. I strained my eyes on the waters, looking, searching keenly for any movement of life in those waters. Suddenly, I saw what I was looking for. A fish, a salmon to be exact, began moving upstream with determination and resolve  against the mighty rush of the waters! 
         It was truly an amazing sight to see this lone fish pushing its way against the strong current as it made its way upstream to do what all salmon characteristically do - find their way back to their birthing ground to lay their eggs. And suddenly, before my eyes, fish after fish was making its way upstream, against the current, to do their duty during the spawning season. Even when the current seemed to be pushing one or the other back downstream, that fish would determinedly push until it had won the battle against the forces of nature that seemed to be saying to it, “You will never make it for I’m stronger and bigger than you.”
         After doing a little research, I was reminded of two out of many stories in the Bible where the situation seemed impossible. One was of course the story of Abraham and Sarah. In Romans 4:18 it says that Abraham “who, contrary to hope in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken” (NKJV). God had given him a promise that he would be the father of many nations but his wife, Sarah, was barren so that promise seemed impossible. Yet, he believed God and God himself, not Abraham and his wife, brought His own Word to pass. When it’s impossible ONLY GOD can do it!
         In another story, the Philistines came to fight against Israel and they were much larger in number. The Israelites became so afraid that they began hiding “in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes and in pits” (I Samuel 13:6). Furthermore, the army had no weapons with which to fight. It was indeed a desperate and hopeless affair. Yet, Jonathan, King Saul’s son, along with his armorbearer, secretly decided to go to the Philistines’ camp. They presented themselves to the Philistines and when invited to come to them, they knew that the Lord had delivered them into their hands. Confusion and fear covered the camp and the Philistines began fighting with one another. When the rest of the Israelites found out what was happening, they did not have much to do. God had indeed defeated their enemy (1Samuel 14:1-23). GOD DID IT!
         I don’t know what odds you’re facing today. I have faced many thus far in my life. Situations that seemed impossible, I watched God make a way where there seemed to be no way. Like the salmon in the story, I had to learn to push my way against difficult circumstances. I have had to learn to believe God when it didn’t make sense to believe, when the facts seemed greater than His truth. But at the end of the day, I’m also learning that my God has the final say. It’s not man’s opinion, or even expectation, it’s about God’s Word. Once He says it that settles it. So, if the devil tells you to give up and that it’s hopeless, don’t believe it for one minute! 
         Sometimes it’s about pushing against the odds because you know what God has promised. The odds, the difficulties, the negatives will always push against the truth of God’s Word. Use the Word of God to push back. Remind the devil and yourself about what God says about your situation. I have had to learn to stand firmly on God’s Word, reminding myself constantly of what God says about me and what He is saying to me in every situation that I face. It’s interesting, but every challenge I have faced has pushed me to trust more and more in God’s Word. What I see with my natural eyes, never has the final say over the Word of God. And when God speaks, He will bring His Word to pass. You don’t have to do anything sometimes but simply believe and trust that He will bring to pass His best for you . At the end of the day, God has the final say and HE will do it!
       
​       If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so now. We all need support when we go through life’s trials and that’s what God is there for. He is the kind of support that beats out all other human support systems. He never fails, He is always there and He will it work it out for you!

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