A Lightweight in a Heavyweight Fight

"So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek." — Hebrews 6:18-20 (NLT)

As a kid, I loved to watch boxing matches with my father. My favorite boxers were Muhammad Ali, George Foreman, and Leon Spinks. I enjoyed the display of physical power and the different techniques and strategies used. Whenever my hero battled his enemy and became the champion, I experienced a rush. Even though I was on the sidelines of the fight, it was as if I’d won, too.

When I was six, I told my dad I wanted to see Muhammad Ali fight Sugar Ray Leonard.

Dad rubbed his chin. “It wouldn’t be a fair fight.”

I frowned and crossed my arms. “Why?”

“There are different weight classes in boxing. Sugar Ray Leonard and Muhammad Ali aren’t in the same weight class.”

“What weight classes are they in?” I asked, still unconvinced.

“Right now, Muhammad Ali is a heavyweight fighter, which means he’s 200 pounds or more,” Dad explained. "Sugar Ray can be anywhere from a welterweight fighter, which maxes out at 147, and a light heavyweight, which maxes out at 175."

I nodded. Things made sense, and I decided I knew exactly how to solve the problem. “Sugar Ray should just gain some more weight.”

My dad chuckled and tried to explain that changing weight class wasn’t that simplistic, especially when the boxers had a short timeframe.

That day, I learned fighters sometimes gained considerable weight before a match to meet the weight limit. However, this practice is harmful to their long-term health and may also leave them unable to fight properly, risking injury and, in extreme cases—death. Boxers like Sugar Ray Leonard were in weight classes that suited their body type and structure, so gaining weight beyond that could negatively impact their performance.

It was a tricky concept for me to comprehend, but now I see how it applies to life.

The last several months have been challenging. I’ve entered a boxing ring, but I often feel like my opponent is in the heavyweight class, and I’m a lightweight. I've tried bulking up spiritually and emotionally, but it never seems like enough.

I understand what my dad was trying to teach me. Moving into a different weight class isn’t easy, and sometimes it’s deadly. Someone capable must fight the heavyweight fights.

During the first few weeks of a recent battle I faced, I doubted anyone cared. I talked with my family and experts who were supposed to help with problems.

No one seemed to have viable answers. Some even discounted my troubles. Depression and fear became constant companions. I spent more and more money with only a partial solution. I tried praying but still wavered and wondered if God saw my predicament.

“God doesn’t listen to you,” the enemy often whispered. “You don’t deserve a miracle.”

Before entering this fight, I thought I was a spiritual giant and could overcome anything the devil threw at me. But by round two, I no longer embodied the character of a heavyweight woman of God—slaying giants with her worship and prayers. I felt like a lightweight believer matched unfairly with something out of my weight class. I wondered why God would allow me to go through this situation.

Doubts plagued me. “What if the worse happens? How are you going to pay for that? God doesn’t love you. That’s why you’re in this mess. You aren’t worthy.”

When worry overwhelmed me, I combed the scriptures, continued to pray, and cried out to God for help. He gave me three practical tips to overcome.

1.        Look to God to fight our battle. Hebrews 6:18-20 (NLT) reminds us that God is a promise keeper. God doesn’t lie. We can be confident God is with us. Jesus intercedes for us and is with us during trials as—the ultimate heavyweight champion who’ll fight for us.

2.        Ask for help. When we ask for help, we lighten our burdens by sharing them. We discover we’re not alone in our fight, and we benefit from the encouragement and prayers of others. Other Christ-followers help us look to Jesus amid trials.

3.        Find the joy and the lesson in the trial. When we endure and persevere, we build our spiritual muscles and thrive within our weight class.

My mistake was getting into the ring with the enemy because it was a rigged fight. My job is to stay on the sidelines cheering for the undefeated champion of the world and allow God to beat the enemy.

God has already won the battle against the enemy, and we can trust His victory. We don’t need to enter the ring with the enemy because God has already defeated him. Instead, we can be confident that God has our back and will fight for us. We can rely on His strength and power to overcome any situation or challenge. When we pray to God and seek His help, we're tapping into the ultimate heavyweight champion's resources, and we can be sure we’ll come out victorious.

God is the ultimate heavyweight champion who fights for us.

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Your turn: Have you ever felt overwhelmed, like a lightweight boxer fighting a heavyweight? Are you currently facing a trial that's making you doubt God's love? Where is your focus? Are you paying more attention to the situation than to God? Have you sought any help? Also, are you rejoicing in the trial and remembering when God brought you out of difficult situations? Have you allowed God to fight for you?

Prayer: Dear God, as I walk through various trials, please remind me that Jesus Christ is my High Priest. He is the ultimate heavyweight champion. Please give me the wisdom, discernment, and courage to ask for help. Show me how to display joy and worship you despite how I may feel. Please give me the ability to work through fear and doubt effectively. Amen.