By himself, man is feeble. He is incapable of everything if he has not God. Thus, the feeling of utter helplessness and hopelessness can infiltrate our minds. Some may feel as if the odds are stacked against them – “There is no way I am going to make it to heaven.” Perhaps you have grown up attending church with your family, but you cannot see yourself ever being as strong as your parents. Maybe you became a Christian after a life lived in dissipation, conducting yourself in all forms of ungodliness. You struggle to see yourself being the Christian God expects you to be. These doubts and worries are only legitimate if God is not in the picture.

God has consistently gained victory Against All Odds. He called Abram out of Paganism to be the father of a great nation that would play a part in His eternal purpose (cf. Genesis 11:31-12:3). God was successful, as was Abraham through God’s help. He appointed a once blasphemous and insolent man to be one of His ambassadors before a lost world (cf. 1 Timothy 1:12-17). His purpose was not withheld from Him, and Paul was successful through Christ who strengthened him (cf. Philippians 4:13). Jesus explained the difficulty of rich men making it to heaven – “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

God did not choose the wise, mighty, and noble, but the humble who put their trust in Him (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:26-31). There is a reason why no man can glory except in the Lord – without God our salvation is Against All Odds. It is impossible to attain. But with God the odds are in our favor. “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).