A Game of Inches

They say in most sports that an inch can determine a win or a loss. In football, it’s the difference between a touchdown or a turnover on downs. In basketball, it can mean the difference between a two-pointer and a three. And in golf, an inch can be the difference between a birdie or par.

Over the weekend, I watched the Masters Golf tournament as Rory Mcllroy chased history. He was on the verge of completing a career grand slam, something only five golfers in history have ever done. On the 18th hole, he had a chance to win the tournament with a very makable 5-foot putt but he missed it…. by less than an inch. That miss sent him into a sudden-death playoff round. But instead of letting the last putt cause him to cave under the pressure, he came back and sank a 3-foot putt that secured the victory! It truly is a game of inches.

In the Bible, Joshua was in a battle of his own. After the previous generation of Israelites had died off under their previous leader, Moses, Joshua was chosen by God to fight and claim the land that God had promised them generations before.

In chapter 10, Joshua’s army was facing a powerful coalition of five Amorite kings. These kings had teamed up to attack Gibeon, which was a city that had recently made a peace treaty with Israel. Therefore, Joshua honored the covenant that he made with the city and led his men into battle.

However, there was one problem… they were running out of daylight. Victory was close, but the sun was setting fast. Where most people would simply settle for “close enough” Joshua prayed one of the boldest prayers in the Bible.

“O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” (Joshua 10:12)

And God answered.

The sun literally froze in the sky until the battle was won.

Now there is much debate within the Christian community on exactly how this miracle happened, but regardless of the method God used, the Bible is clear that the day was prolonged and God’s divine intervention turned the tide of the battle for his people. It was the extra inch that they needed to win.

Today, consider what areas in your life you have settled for “close enough.” Maybe you’ve been stuck in an addiction and you’ve started to believe freedom isn’t possible. Maybe a family member has been far from God for years, and you’ve stopped praying because “they’ll never change.” Maybe you have been chasing a dream, only to fall short time and time again.

Let Joshua’s prayer be an encouragement to you. God specializes in the impossible. He is not limited by time, circumstance, or human logic. It’s our job to have the faith to ask for big prayers and trust that He has the ability to make it happen. After all, the same God who raised Jesus from the grave is able to move in your situation too.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20)

The Bigger Picture: Don’t settle for “close enough.” Pray boldly and trust God for the impossible because every inch matters.