WE WIN!!!

Written by Russ Crosson, Chief Mission Officer and Sr. Partner of Blue Trust

Imagine this: You’re at home settling in to watch your favorite Olympic gold medal game, match, or race, and you find yourself strangely calm. No anxiety, nervousness, sweaty palms, or stress. You are a huge fan of the U.S. athletes you’re watching compete, so why are you so at ease? The answer is that your friend texted you the results of the event an hour ago. How? When the Olympic Games are held overseas, the competition has already taken place before it’s aired on American television. Since you know the outcome, you can relax and just enjoy watching the event unfold.

The same could be said for us as Christians. We know the outcome. We know how the story ends, so we can enjoy the trip no matter what is going on in our lives.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor 15:57)
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (1 John 5:4)
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

As we approach this Thanksgiving season, I cannot think of anything to be more thankful for than this reality — WE WIN! No matter what might be going on in my life, my family, my job, the country, or the world, I can rest in the fact that God has everything under control. He is sovereign over all things. Even though the journey may feel long and challenging, I can keep pressing on, knowing the outcome is already determined. As a follower of Christ, I know I will be victorious in the end and live with Him forever in heaven. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 3:20)^[1]

Given the reality that God is omnipotent and wins the ultimate victory, I can remain at peace in this present world. So, this Thanksgiving, consider meditating on the following Bible verses while giving thanks that, as believers, we know how the story ends.

God will give you peace.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
God will always meet your needs.
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Hand over your concerns to God.
“The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your faithfulness, Lord, is everlasting; Do not abandon the works of Your hands.” (Psalm 138:8)
“I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me.” (Psalm 57:2)
God is on his throne and working His plan no matter what is going on in the world.
“The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let’s tear their shackles apart and throw their ropes away from us!’ He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them.” (Psalm 2: 2-4)
This is not our home. We are sojourners. Do not get too comfortable as life unfolds.
“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:8-11)
Let God be the object of your faith. Nothing is too difficult or impossible for Him. When I begin to get anxious or stressed, it helps to reflect on how big God is by reminding myself that He determines the number of stars and gives them all names.
“For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
“And looking at them, Jesus said to them, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” (Matthew 19:26)
“He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.” (Psalm 147:4)
Practice constantly casting your cares on Him because He cares for you.
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this season, I pray that you may rest in knowing that you are a part of God’s perfect plan, which He is unfolding in His sovereign timing.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

^[1] Commitment as a Christian