Against All Odds
Are you facing odds that aren’t in your favor? Maybe it’s the impossible? Maybe it’s not the impossible, but you have been given a slim chance. Your situation might look completely hopeless. 1%. 10%. Maybe you have been given a little more hope in the natural and are at 50%.
The Passion Translation of Romans 4:18 says, “Against all odds, when it looked hopeless, Abraham believed the promise and expected God to fulfill it.” The odds were completely against Abraham and Sarah to conceive, but despite his circumstances Abraham continued to believe anyway. Not only did he believe, but he took God at His Word and expected God to fulfill His promise.
Abraham is not the only person to have the cards stacked completely against him. Colby and I are just like Abraham. We have been told that we have a 0% of conceiving naturally. While I can isolate our situation, the reality is that you or someone you know might be up against some tough statistics today. But, there is always hope in Christ. Despite how bad your circumstances look or what you are up against, follow Abraham’s example and continue to believe the promise and expect God to fufill them.
Abraham’s faith was so strong that nothing could shake it. He never stopped believing and because of His faith, He glorified God. Not only was perfect righteousness credited to His account, but Abraham received His promise (Rom 4:19-22). I love Romans 4 because this declaration was not just spoken over Abraham, but it was spoken over you and me too! When we believe, we too receive righteousness and the promises we have been waiting for (Rom 4:23-25).
Take a leap of faith and believe that God will break every chain and heal every disease. Trust that he will bring you a husband, provide a job, heal you from your past, restore your relationships, or bring you a baby. The alternative? You can wallow up with doubt and fear and choose to trust the negative report in front of you. Isn’t it better to choose the path filled with hope and rise up in faith believing against all odds?
I am choosing to thank God that the odds are stacked against us! Why? Because just like Abraham, when we receive our breakthrough there will be no other explanation but HIM! GOD will get ALL the glory! Don’t let the odds against you prevent you from asking, waiting, expecting, and hoping to receive your heart’s desire and God’s promises for you!
PS. Have you read the Passion Translation? It will rock your world and Romans 4 is completely worth buying the book for! Highly recommend it!
PPS. Don’t forget to enter the Jesus Today giveaway!
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Carissa Maul
Posted at 08:30h, 29 JanuaryI have felt like I’m against all odds. Pinned against a wall and chained but His grace keeps me safe and my faith keeps me grounded. I love following your journey and being a part of this community. Your faith is an inspiration!
Bianca
Posted at 08:56h, 29 JanuaryThank you, thank you, thank you! I needed this today!
Elisha
Posted at 09:04h, 29 JanuaryAmen!!
waitingforbabybird.com
Adriana Renee
Posted at 09:59h, 29 JanuaryI definitely needed to hear this! I currently feel this way because I feel like I’m in such a disadvantage in things and I feel like I need to trust in God a bit more.
tiffanyatouchofgrace
Posted at 10:09h, 29 JanuaryI love your faith Caroline. The story of Abraham and Sarah is probably one of my favorites. It is very inspiring.
Rebecca Jo
Posted at 10:18h, 29 JanuaryGod is all about breaking the odds… I mean, the odds of a man raising from the dead 3 days later? 😉
Passion translation? I’ve not seen that yet. I’ll have to check it out
Cheryl
Posted at 10:50h, 29 JanuaryWhen you mentioned “the negative report in front of you”, my mind instantly went to King Hezekiah and how Rabshakeh brought the awful, threatening, taunting letter from Sennacherib to him. I can’t even imagine how much fear it must have invoked, but what he did next has always been SUCH an inspiration to me and challenged me and my faith so many times. He took that letter in his hand, and he went into the place of worship, and he spread out the letter before the Lord, and he prayed over it. And God answered! God is teaching me so much lately about our need to PICK UP the shield of faith and the Sword of the Spirit in the face of these impossibilities. When confronted by the enemy through doubt and fear, it takes a concentrated effort to pick up the shield of faith and our Sword and stand firm in his face and quote Scripture to him. But, if we will go against everything we FEEL and do that, we will defeat satan every, single time, just like Jesus (THE Word) defeated him with the Word during His awful temptation to succumb. I love Romans 4, too…it has sustained me SO many times and is doing so in light of my and my family’s current impossible challenge. Praying for you, Caroline. Doctors’ 0% chance just gives God the opportunity to perform an even greater miracle for you!!!!
Jaclyn
Posted at 13:06h, 29 JanuaryI love how we both keep coming back to this chapter throughout the past few months…a few weeks back I had this revelation about verse 20: “But he did not doubt or waver in unbelief concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and empowered by faith, giving glory to God..”
How did Abraham not doubt or waver in unbelief? By giving glory to God!
Throughout this past week, I keep coming across the word Elohim and can remember my Pastor saying Genesis 1: “In the beginning Elohim created heaven and earth… (Names Of God Bible (NOG))” I was quickly reminded how everything we see was formed: God spoke and it WAS! Romans 4:21: “[Abraham] being fully convinced that God had the power to do what He had promised.” When God speaks it it IS and He is NOT a man that He should lie!! 🙂 And on the Sabbath God rested from creating – as we are to do as well – speak the Word AND rest in God’s faithfulness that it SHALL be accomplished.
I think I just freed myself…;-p
Jaclyn
Posted at 13:08h, 29 JanuaryThanks for sharing, Cheryl – I’ve never read that before – but I love it! 🙂
Her Sword
Posted at 11:56h, 29 JanuaryThank you! I seriously love your heart!
Kim Adams Morgan
Posted at 12:40h, 29 JanuaryAmen. Reading John right now. We have such an amazing Creator.
Deborah
Posted at 16:26h, 29 JanuaryCaroline, every time I come here I am comforted and encouraged not only by your outlook, but also by every word that you write giving glory back to God. May He bless you in ways you won’t even be able to fathom–this is my prayer for you dear sister in Christ. You encourage me, and I know I am not alone.
booksnbakery
Posted at 17:36h, 29 JanuaryThis past year tested me sooo much – compounded by the preceding years – with my health crashbamfailing. I still have a strong faith but I find myself questioning so much that I never used to! I don’t like this about me at all but of course, it’s not something that I can just wish away.Thank you for your encouragement!
Amber Under Construction
Posted at 19:21h, 29 JanuaryI totally agree with you – even though this has been a tough 5 years, I’m thankful for the hope that God is going to use my story for a glorious good. Sometimes I’ll start comparing my life to someone else but then I think of God’s faithfulness in my life so far and the promises He gives me for the future and I realize that I don’t want to live anyone else’s story but mine. I also love that so many of the great bible stories include infertility as it makes me feel special and excited to think that me and my husband have our own special story that God is writing. Thank you for the encouragement 🙂
Jojo
Posted at 21:16h, 29 JanuaryAmen! I finally got to watch War Room and the power of prayer is beautiful.
mamabrucks
Posted at 22:59h, 29 JanuaryWe have had those moments this week as well…all the odds were stacked against us, we prayed and somehow the table was turned…well, I know how…God!
Alana
Posted at 23:10h, 29 JanuaryTo God be all the Glory! My husband and I have been given less than 1% chance of naturally conceiving….but that just means, when He keeps His promise to us of a daughter named Hannah, He will receive all the credit for that miracle!
Keep believing, Caroline- I know He has made a promise to you and Colby, too. 🙂
Jed Jurchenko
Posted at 07:10h, 30 JanuaryAmen! Thank you for this reminder. As our family faces a new season of challenges, it is awesome to be reminder that God is for us, and that He is able to work our difficult situation for our good and His glory. Thank you for the words of encouragement and hope!
GinaB
Posted at 09:11h, 30 JanuaryCaroline, you are an excellent example of encouraging yourself in the Lord. I will continue you keep your petition before God. I am a living example of what man says is impossible is possible with God.
Betsy Herman
Posted at 12:45h, 30 JanuaryI’m standing with you! And you’ve gotten me into the Passion Translation (so far I’ve bought Psalms & Proverbs). Thanks 🙂
Tara
Posted at 15:08h, 30 JanuaryThanks for this fantastic reminder. We know that God can beat the odds, but we tend to forget that it is something that He really loves to do!
Dreaming of Diapers
Posted at 16:28h, 30 JanuaryBeautiful as always Caroline! Against all odds and trusting in Him…your faith is truly inspiring! Xo
Heather
Posted at 17:46h, 30 JanuaryI have a few situations that seem impossible, thanks for this encouragement!
Brianna George
Posted at 22:51h, 31 JanuaryOh, I adore the Passion translation of the scriptures.:) Your story is so encouraging sister-friend. Against all odds is good enough for me when we are talking God. 🙂 It’s his specilalty.
Laura @ Making Baby Provence
Posted at 10:37h, 01 FebruaryPerfect timing, friend. Thank you!
Jonathan Key
Posted at 09:56h, 02 FebruaryI’m going to check out the Passion Tanslation today. This was great timing and encouragement thanks so much!
Lisa
Posted at 15:22h, 02 FebruaryYes, there is always hope in Christ!! Something we never need to forget! God Bless:)
Anne @ The Fitly Spoken Word
Posted at 06:58h, 03 FebruaryGod specializes in the impossible! 🙂
Amy Hagerup
Posted at 08:42h, 03 FebruaryWhen we were trying to adopt a baby in Ghana, our lawyer dropped our case saying that it would be impossible for us to be given her. I felt like the Red Sea was before us. Only God could work a miracle and open the Red Sea. He did and she is now 22 years old! Good for you for clinging to Him. By the way, I have seen others helped with the same challenge. If you would like to know more, email me and I’ll send you some testimonies. Blessings.
Samantha Lee
Posted at 03:29h, 04 FebruaryThank you for this encouragement! Praying that it blesses more people today!
MaryHill
Posted at 19:31h, 04 FebruaryI will pray for you. I know God can do all things for me. His yes is always the greater one. So encouraging. Thank you.
Prue
Posted at 03:26h, 20 JanuaryThank you, you have no idea how much this has helped me today.