When the odds are stacked against you

Sunday Teaching

Nov 23

The full video of this teaching is available at the bottom of this post and this link.

WHEN THE ODDS ARE STACKED AGAINST YOU

That tightening in your chest, the weight pressing down on your shoulders, the pit in your stomach that won’t go away—it’s all there, a constant reminder of just how high the odds are stacked against you. You’ve run the numbers, played out the scenarios. The clock is ticking. And there you stand, frozen, wondering if you’ve already lost before the fight even begins.

Life throws us into battles we never saw coming, when the odds tower over us. The ocean of addiction recovery you can’t swim, the ache of losing someone you love, the struggle of blending kids into a new marriage, or the weight of a devastating diagnosis. These moments leave us shaken, scared, and unsure of what to do next. But today, we will explore a path forward, even when the odds seem overwhelming. And we’ll find it through the example of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20.

The odds against Jehoshaphat? They weren’t just stacked—they were crushing. Three nations had joined forces—Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites—and their armies were already on the move, closing in fast. Word came that the armies had reached En Gedi, a nearby oasis along the Dead Sea, practically knocking on Jerusalem’s front door. There was no time to prepare, no allies riding to the rescue. Judah’s army? Too small. The threat? Too big. Jehoshaphat wasn’t just outnumbered—he was terrified.

JEHOSHAPHAT’S PATH FORWARD

“Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, ‘A vast army from Edom is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at En-gedi’” (2 Chronicles 20:1-2).

The first thing Jehoshaphat did? He faced the problem head-on. He didn’t sugarcoat it or pretend it wasn’t happening. The danger was real, and he recognized the size of the threat. It was terrifying, but denial wasn’t an option.

“Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting” (2 Chronicles 20:3-4).

Jehoshaphat’s fear didn’t paralyze him—it propelled him. Instead of scrambling to gather his army or fortify his defenses, he went straight to God. He called the entire nation to begin fasting and praying, making seeking the Lord their very first move. No backup plans, no distractions—just wholehearted dependence on God.

“He prayed, ‘O Lord, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven. You are ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!’” (2 Chronicles 20:6).

Jehoshaphat’s prayer didn’t start with the problem—it began with praise. He reminded himself and his people of who God is: the sovereign, all-powerful ruler of heaven and earth. Before asking for anything, he worshiped, anchoring their faith in God’s greatness and His past faithfulness.

“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help” (2 Chronicles 20:12).

Jehoshaphat didn’t pretend to have it all together. He admitted their weakness and uncertainty, laying it all before God. “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you,” he prayed. In that moment of humility, Jehoshaphat showed what actual dependence on God looks like—an open confession that only God could deliver them from the impossible.

“As all the men of Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, wives, and children, the Spirit of the LORD came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of Zechariah…He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:13-15).

Jehoshaphat and his people didn’t rush to act; they waited. And in the stillness, in the midst of their fear and uncertainty, God spoke. “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (v. 15). Can you imagine? The weight of an impossible situation suddenly shifted, not because the threat disappeared, but because the responsibility for the outcome no longer rested on their shoulders. It wasn’t their fight—it was God’s. In that one declaration, fear was silenced, courage was kindled, and hope began to rise.

“Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:18).

Jehoshaphat says, "Here's my idea—do any of you sing?" He starts picking them out. "We're going to form a little choir, and you're going out in front of the infantry. You'll be between the enemy and our best fighters."

Picture it. On one mountain, three enemy armies are amassed, ready for battle. Three nations’ worth of soldiers, weapons, and sheer force. Then there’s the valley where the fighting is supposed to happen. And on the other side? The Israelites. Outnumbered, outmatched, and… singing. "Thanks to God! Praise God!" And the enemy? They’re staring down at this procession, thinking, What is even happening right now?

“At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves” (2 Chronicles 20:22).

Worship was their weapon, and God did the rest. Jehoshaphat trusted God to fight the battle, and the enemy armies destroyed one another. Judah’s army never had to lift a sword.

WHAT ABOUT NOW

Jehoshaphat’s story is thousands of years old, but his fear, his desperation, his overwhelming odds? They feel eerily familiar. Because while we may not face armies marching toward us, we do face battles that feel just as impossible—battles that leave us equally terrified, begging God for a way forward.

BLENDED FAMILY

You knew it wouldn’t be easy, but you didn’t think it would be this hard. One kid slams doors; another won’t leave their room. They don’t just ignore each other—they ignore you. Everyone’s walking on eggshells, and the house feels more like a battleground than a home. And then there’s the unspoken tension between you and your spouse—the defensiveness, the feeling that your spouse is siding with their kids instead of building this family with you. You’re trying so hard to love everyone, but nothing’s working, and deep down, you’re wondering, “What if this never gets better?”

CANCER

How do you even begin to process the kind of cancer diagnosis that steals the air from the room? A cancer with one of those names—the kind tied to a low five-year survival rate. And then there are the charts and scans, the ones you can’t stop staring at even though you don’t understand half the words. You’re googling definitions, trying to piece it all together, knowing you won’t even see the doctor for days. The waiting, the not knowing—it’s enough to drive you to the edge. But Jehoshaphat’s path forward has something for you today.

ADDICTION

You tell yourself this time will be different, but your mind is already reaching—reaching for the substance, the drink, the taste, the thing that stops the feelings.

Your loved ones tell you to dig deep. But what if there's nothing left to dig? It feels like you're trying to dig your way out of a well, and the light at the top keeps getting smaller. The odds are suffocating. The idea of trying again? Unthinkable.

DEATH OF A LOVED ONE

The shadow of their absence is heavy and constant. Their laugh, their voice—their presence—it’s just gone. People tell you that time heals, but it doesn’t feel like it. And then there are the nagging questions in your heart—Why now? Why them? Why this?

EISEGESIS CAUTION

When we read stories like Jehoshaphat’s victory, it’s easy to make it all about us. But if we’re not careful, we can twist the text into what we want it to say. That’s called eisegesis—reading our own ideas into the Bible instead of drawing out what it actually says.

Here’s how to avoid it:

Don’t Ignore the Context. This wasn’t just any battle. Three literal armies were marching against God’s covenant people, and Jehoshaphat’s cry for help came in the context of God’s unique relationship with Israel. It’s a story about God’s faithfulness to His covenant, not a quick fix for every personal challenge we face. If we skip over the bigger picture, we risk missing the depth of what’s happening in 2 Chronicles.

Don’t Overpromise a Formula. This story is not a personal promise to every Christian for a quick fix or personal victory whenever the odds are stacked against us. God showed up miraculously for Jehoshaphat, but not every battle we face will end in a clear, immediate triumph. Not every relationship is restored (Free Will). Not every cancer is cured (Fallen World). But in God’s sovereignty, He’s always working for our ultimate good and His glory. Even when the battle feels lost, the war belongs to Him, and His victory is eternal. Always remember, Saul lost at Mount Gilboa, Stephen still died of rock-force trauma, Lazarus died twice, and Paul and Barnabas still went their separate ways.

Don’t Cherry-Pick the Story. Jehoshaphat’s victory wasn’t just about the miracle—it was about what led up to it: the prayer, the humility, and the trust in God even when the odds were crushing. If we skip to the happy ending and ignore the process, we miss the real power of the story: learning to depend on God no matter how the battle turns out.

Jehohaphat’s story doesn’t guarantee how our struggles will end, but it reminds us who God is. He fights for His people. He’s sovereign. And He’s trustworthy, no matter what.

EXEGESIS EXCITEMENT

When we approach the story of Jehoshaphat through proper exegesis (interpreting Scripture by uncovering its original meaning in context before applying it), the encouragement we find is both powerful and practical. For anyone standing in the shadow of impossible challenges, it reminds us that God is not distant, passive, or unconcerned.

Why is it fair to use this passage as an analogy for our struggles today? Because the universal principles here are undeniable. The themes—turning to God in prayer, trusting His sovereignty, acknowledging our dependence, and witnessing His power—are timeless truths.

Even more, this passage offers faith-based encouragement. Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah didn’t just survive their crisis—they turned it into a moment of worship, trust, and faith. That’s the kind of response we are invited into when we’re staring down our own overwhelming odds.

And then there’s the broader theme that runs through Scripture: God’s faithfulness in delivering His people. From the Red Sea to Jehoshaphat’s valley to Psalm 34:17—“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles”—the pattern is clear. God meets His people in their desperation. He hears. He works. He delivers. And while that deliverance may not always look how we expect, it always reflects His sovereignty, goodness, and glory.

JEHOSHAPHAT SPEAKS TO YOU TODAY

So, now that we’ve walked through Jehoshaphat’s battle, reflected on the cautions of eisegesis, and celebrated the excitement of proper exegesis, let’s bring it back to you. What would Jehoshaphat say to those of you crushed by the weight of the odds? I want to close by imagining his words, spoken directly into your situation today.

Don’t be afraid. I know it’s hard—I was terrified too. But here’s what I learned: the size of the army in front of you doesn’t matter when God, behind you, is greater. The battle isn’t yours to fight alone. You don’t have to carry it. You don’t have to fix it. You don’t have to win it. You just have to trust that God is bigger than the fear you’re feeling right now.

Go ahead and feel the fear—just don’t let it have the final word. When I stood there, shaking, staring at the enemy on the horizon, I cried out to God because I didn’t know what else to do. And you know what? That’s when everything changed. Not because the army disappeared but because God reminded me that the fight wasn’t mine to begin with.

Lift your eyes! Stop staring at the size of the problem and start looking at the size of your God. Worship Him before you see the victory. Praise Him when it doesn’t make sense. Sing, even when you feel like breaking because God is already working. The battle belongs to Him. Do you hear me? It belongs to Him!

So step out, not because you’re strong enough, but because He is. Face whatever’s in front of you—cancer, addiction, grief, chaos—knowing you don’t march alone. Worship your way into the valley, and watch what God will do. He’s never failed. And He won’t start now. Raise your voice. Take the first step. Trust Him to meet you there, right in the middle of the fight. Because this? This isn’t just your battle. It’s His.

You are not alone. Your church is with you, your life group is with you, and your ministry leaders are with you. The people of God are worshiping with you, praying with you, and lifting you through the darkest and most difficult days. This is God’s battle, and He has brought us together to fight it with Him. So take courage because God is here, and the victory is His.

Greg McNichols