Overcoming Your Fear of Impossible Odds
God uses us, but it's not our strength that wins the battle, it's His.
From my reading today, book of Maccabees:
17 But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said to Judas, “How can we, few as we are, fight against so great and strong a multitude? And we are faint, for we have eaten nothing today.”
18 Judas replied, “It is easy for many to be hemmed in by few, for in the sight of Heaven there is no difference between saving by many or by few. 19 It is not on the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven. 20 They come against us in great pride and lawlessness to destroy us and our wives and our children, and to despoil us; 21 but we fight for our lives and our laws. 22 He himself will crush them before us; as for you, do not be afraid of them.”
In the text Judas Maccabeus is battling against an invading army and is greatly outnumbered.
Many of us who want to evangelize feel outnumbered by the forces of the wider culture around us. We think: How can we win this one? How can we protect our families from the loss of their faith? How can we keep our parishes from closing down? How can we reach those who are lost?
If God cared about the physical land and the governance of the people of Israel, how much more does He care about every soul He created? Every soul He longs to draw to Himself?
Ours is a spiritual battle, and God is in it to win. Thus in his letter to the Ephesians St. Paul issues our weapons and orders:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; 16 above all taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Today you are praying for your priests and bishop, of course — ask St. Paul to intercede for them, he knows well their need.
And don’t give up. Sure, the enemy is daunting. But it’s not you who has to deliver the victory. If you answer your calling, whatever it is, you can go forward with complete trust that God has this one under control.