Long odds, unlikely outcomes, overwhelming tasks, and insurmountable challenges—for an unknown writer trying to reach readers in the vast ocean of global voices, the journey feels like all of these things at once. In my own mind, the endeavor sometimes feels nearly hopeless.
Meanwhile, content creators who spin manipulative yarns about historical figures or legendary actors often amass half a million followers. Every word they write and every tactic they employ is designed to con you into clicking a link, generating the precious “engagement” that Facebook algorithms crave. It is all a scheme to secure a steady income for the purveyors while offering absolutely nothing of value in return.
But before you give up reading, thinking I’m just whining, know that this really isn’t about me. My groggy thoughts early this morning were just a gateway to something much more universal: the existence of Herculean challenges in our lives.
In many ways, the challenge of building a Facebook presence—or even the struggle of living on a fixed income during a period of inflation—is not so different from the battle faced by the owner of a small local coffee shop, or a pastor trying to build a new church from scratch. They face overwhelming odds, yet they show up, turn on the lights, and go to work each day, believing that despite everything stacked against them, they can still succeed. While some are undoubtedly just fooling themselves, others see something that most people miss: that daily faithfulness, under the quiet hand of God, can lead to outcomes no one could have predicted.
It helps to be an optimist—or at least to try to be one—but maintaining that outlook is made difficult by the negativity we face. People will tell you it will never work, that you are wasting your time, or that you have no chance. For some, the greatest negativity comes from within their own minds—voices designed to stop you before you even start. If that isn’t enough, there are podcasts, YouTube channels, discussion boards, and even “friends” who stand ready to reinforce that doubt.
So much of what we hear in the world does not come from those who have our best interests at heart. Instead, it comes from people eager to demonstrate a worldly sophistication and intellect—perspectives that generally give no thought to God. Internet forums often attract those who enjoy being caustic and abusive, likely because it is one of the few ways they can feel good about themselves. If you dare to ask a question that has already been answered, or simply offer an uplifting reply, it becomes red meat for the online wolves. How sad.
However, some feedback will come from people who genuinely care about you. Their advice is well-intentioned, and their words must be carefully considered. I am convinced that God speaks into our lives through people like that. If you hear the same concern from enough people who love you and want to honor God, that is a reason to pause and seriously weigh their advice in light of biblical truth.
I am writing today to address people who are doing something they truly believe God is calling them to do—even when the situation seems hopeless. Consider the Hebrews leaving Egypt under Moses, the prospect of the shepherd boy David against the Philistine giant Goliath, or the story of Joseph, sold into slavery and stuck in prison before rising to incredible heights in Egypt. Any one of those situations could have been viewed as a million-to-one shot. And yet, one plus God is always a majority.
For some, the insurmountable hurdle is restoring a marriage or rebuilding a life after a catastrophic failure. For others, it is winning a battle against drug or alcohol addiction, or overcoming a debilitating, long-standing depression. I imagine there are more people facing seemingly insurmountable challenges than there are those who are not. Perhaps, however, some who don’t identify with this struggle have simply given up on the idea of victory so long ago that the hurdle they face has faded from view.
My message to people who call themselves Christians and to those who don’t believe in God is the same: God is real, and He can do anything. Christians should know this, yet we often take a myopic view of God—one where our obstacles appear huge while our view of God remains very small.
For those who have never believed in God or have given up on the idea entirely, let me simply say this: God does not require your belief in order to exist. When I was in elementary school, I somehow got the idea that pirates were fictional, like the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny. Maybe I was onto something if I was thinking only of pirates with peg legs and parrots on their shoulders singing “Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum.” In the same way, people who don’t believe in God might be disbelieving a caricature rather than the real God. If the only versions of God you’ve ever heard about are cartoonish, petty, or cruel, it makes perfect sense that you would walk away from that picture.
So if you are facing a challenge today that feels impossible, don’t let the odds—or the negativity of the world—define your reality. Whether you are building a business, rebuilding a life, or just trying to make it through the day, remember that your view of the obstacle is not the only view that matters. The God who parted the Red Sea and guided the shepherd boy’s stone is the same God who is with you now. The task may be Herculean, but you are not facing it alone.
So if you are facing a challenge today that feels impossible, don’t let the odds—or the negativity of the world—define your reality. Whether you are building a business, rebuilding a life, or just trying to make it through the day, remember that your view of the obstacle is not the only view that matters. The God who parted the Red Sea and guided the shepherd boy’s stone is the same God who is with you now. The task may be monumental, but you are not facing it alone. Remember the words of the Apostle Paul, a man who faced obstacles and adversity at every turn. He knew that if God is for us, nothing can stand against us. For He is able to do far more than we can ask or imagine.