My friend Joe is in the middle of a season where the world is against him. (Joe isn't his real name.) He's trying to pay off debt, and it seems like one car after another keeps breaking down. He and his wife are working on their relationship, but old patterns are tough to break.
We were talking recently about his sense of discouragement. Physically, he's dealing with fatigue, but his more significant problem is emotional and spiritual weariness. When I asked him to identify a word to describe his feelings, he said, "overwhelmed."
I mentioned Lakewood Music's new song, "Outnumbered," and encouraged my friend to listen. The song's chorus declares that you are never outnumbered whenever God fights for you, no matter how weary you feel.
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"You fight the battle
You get the glory
Here come the angels
Here comes the victory
The enemy is outnumbered."
I shared this song with my friend because I've been where he's sitting. Challenges in my parenting, marriage, finances, health, and leadership have taken me to the brink. I've battled anxiety, burnout, cynicism, doubt, and unforgiveness. The incoming temptations and emotions rising within me have left me feeling outnumbered.
The "outnumbered" theme appears throughout the Old Testament. In Exodus 14, as the Egyptians pursue the recently freed Hebrew people, Moses speaks to the people with a counterintuitive command: "Don't be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm." As you likely know, God parted the Red Sea and destroyed the Egyptian army.
Similarly, in 2 Chronicles 20, the people ran to Jerusalem under King Jehosophat because of the attacking enemy nations. Standing before an anxious people, the king declared, "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." The battle was God's as he turned the armies of three nations against each other, leaving great take for the people of Israel.
In the New Testament, Paul writes to the people of Corinth to encourage their faith and strengthen their resolve in the face of significant opposition. He famously shares words that encouraged countless generations and led to many songs.
"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies."
As a pastor, the best sermons I share with my church are those I've first preached to myself. Before I stand on a platform and declare God's word to my people, a message and a passage of Scripture will work on me in a way that humbles and transforms me. Re-reading these Scriptures (and many others) has strengthened my heart and resolve as I consider God's power to work in situations where the odds are not in my favor. These verses have caused me to reconsider my feelings of being outnumbered.
It sounds like Tauren Wells had a similar experience with "Outnumbered."
Those feelings are why I appreciated what Tauren Wells shared about this song. In a post on Lakewood Music's Instagram page, Wells talked about the impact this song had on him as he was involved in creating and recording it.
"I'm so excited about this new song, Outnumbered. It's so significant. It's so special. And honestly, I heard it at a time when I really needed to hear it. And what I love about this song is that chorus that says - "you fight the battle. You get the glory" reminded me that I never have to fight alone. I never have to walk alone. I never have to be alone. And that's true for you, too, that when there are situations in your life that feel too heavy for you to carry, God's going to help you carry it. When there are situations that feel like there's just more than you can handle, God is going to give you the grace. He's going to step in and fight that battle. On your behalf. So no matter what you're surrounded by today, you are not outnumbered."
Feeling outnumbered is a normal and natural human response to overwhelming circumstances. But, like the people of Israel, I encourage you to consider how you're counting. God is at work in your life, and He tips the odds in your favor every time. I pray that listening to "Outnumbered" will stir your faith and strengthen your resolve to trust Him to work in your life in ways you cannot yet comprehend. God is fighting your battles, and when He's done, He'll deserve all the glory!
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps people transform difficult circumstances into places where they can thrive. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and loves watching movies with his wife and three kids. You can begin Scott’s newest project, The 21 Day Gratitude Challenge, today.
