“But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision.” — Psalm 59:6

Feeling Intimidated?

In 1965, during the Illinois high school boys’ basketball tournament, Quincy High faced Thornton High of Harvey in the second game of the semifinals. Collinsville High, the eventual state champion, had won the first game and there was a lull in the action before the second game started.

Then, Thornton’s team came out of Assembly Hall’s far tunnel. All 10 players were running single file, five paces apart, and each dribbling a basketball. In unison, they came the length of the court and, having the crowd’s complete attention, each player dunked it. The fans roared to life and gave a standing ovation. I’ve never seen anything like it.

But if Thornton meant to intimidate Quincy with this awesome display of athleticism, it didn’t work. Quincy won 64-59. The world tries to be an intimidating place, too. David wrote in Psalm 22:16, “The congregation of the wicked has enclosed me.” Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:8, we “were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.”

Yet Psalm 2:4 says, “The Lord shall hold them in derision.” Hebrews 12:1 says, “We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” Do you feel intimidated by forces in the world today? You are not alone. Be encouraged, though, because … you are not alone.

God will never be intimidated. Neither should we. Jesus and His angels always surround us.

— Stanley Tucker