A powerful reminder by Ray Ortlund, who blogs at the The Gospel Coalition, that God is never, ever afraid to play (what might feel  like to us)  a losing or weak hand in His own game.

No matter how dark the battlefield gets His word is true.  “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

“Workman of God, O lose not heart, but learn what God is like
And in the darkest battlefield thou shalt know where to strike

Thrice blest is he to whom is given the instinct that can tell
That God is on the field when he is most invisible

He hides himself so wondrously, as though there were no God
He is least seen when all the powers of ill are most abroad

Ah, God is other than we think, his ways are far above
Far beyond reason’s height and reached only by childlike love

Then learn to scorn the praise of men and learn to lose with God
For Jesus won the world through shame and beckons thee his road.”

– Frederick William Faber, 1814-1863.

HT: Ray Ortlund