God Holds the Trump Card
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV)
I love playing games. Whether card games, board games, or a fun game of charades, I am always in for a game. Games are a great way to connect and spend time with my kids and friends. When I moved to Michigan years ago, I was introduced to a card game I had never heard of, euchre. Euchre is most commonly known in the Midwest, and I quickly became addicted to playing it.
Whenever my husband and I get together with friends, nine times out of ten, we end up playing intense games of euchre.
It’s hard to explain the rules and how the points work in writing, but I want to attempt to give you a brief understanding. You play in two teams of two, and ultimately, you want to be the first team to earn ten points. Every hand, you rotate which team deals, and for the most part, the dealing team has a higher chance of gaining that hand’s points.
Stealing the Deal
This is where the sneaky cutthroat players come in. Sometimes you play with people who will try to “steal the deal” as it is called. After their partner deals, and it should go to the other team, the other person on the team just slyly collects the cards and starts shuffling and deals. Everyone is usually talking and laughing and not paying close attention, so that the person gets away with stealing the deal.
This makes me think about how the evil one is at work and constantly trying to steal things away from us. In the verse from John 10 above, it is clear he is at work. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy. He is sly, and we are often not on our guard; we misswhat he is doing to try and win the hand he is playing.
Right Bower, Right Hand
The two most powerful cards in a euchre hand are the right and left bower, but even the lowest trump card can still have power. Often in a hand of euchre, it will come down to the last card played and who has trump cards left in their hand.
Here’s the thing about God: he always holds the trump card. No matter what the evil one is trying to do in our life, God holds the trump card. He continually tells us throughout his word he is with us, and he is holding us in his right hand. No matter what Satan is trying to steal or destroy, God is with us.
Not only is he with us, but he, too, is working in ways we cannot see or comprehend.
Recently, I was playing a different card game with my four kids, and my youngest was quickly losing. Even though it was a card game, certain cards required you to do an action, and speed was essential. The last person to complete the action and slap the cards had to put those cards in their deck. The first person with no cards won, so you didn’t want to add cards to your deck. After a few turns of him losing a hand and having to put cards into his hand, he dropped a card on the floor. As he bent down to pick up the card, I secretly took half the cards from his deck and placed them in mine. My other kids were appalled, but I actioned for them to zip it, and we continued to play.
My son never realized what I did to help him.
God, too, is working to help us in ways we will never see or comprehend. I am not sure what life is throwing at you these days (well, other than a global pandemic). You might be dealing with financial troubles, health concerns, grief, or a multitude of other woes, but here is the thing you need to remember:
God is with you. And God holds the trump card. No matter the pain or hurt you are experiencing, know God is working for your good, even when it may not look that way on the surface.
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for always being with us. Thank you for your peace that transcends our understanding and give us the confidence to know you are always working for our good. May we cling to you when the world is beating us down and find refuge in your loving arms. Our hope is in you, Lord and we praise your name, Jesus. Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:10-12 NIV)
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8 NIV)
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” (Rom. 16: 20 NIV)
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” (Isa. 55:8-9 NIV)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deut. 31:6 NIV)
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zeph. 3:17 ESV)
Reach for More
When we are in the midst of a battle, sometimes it is hard to see the end. If you have a story of God’s mighty power at work in your life or a time when God played his trump card, we would love for you to share it. Be an encouragement for someone who is still fighting! Use the hashtag #tgtreachformore and share your words of encouragement.
is living the full life with her husband, Jeff, four kids, and a dog in Metro Detroit. Heather enjoys reading, writing, coffee-ing, and serving in youth ministry. She was born a Jersey girl and feels most at home on a beach. She is the host of the monthly link-up, Share Four Somethings. You can join Heather on the journey to living the full life at www.heathergerwing.com.
Photograph © Aditya Chinchure, used with permission
