We don’t often write about horse racing here at UNPACKIN’ it, but history was made at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky that just has to be unpacked today!
Rich Strike won the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby as the biggest long shot out of the 20 horses in the race (80-to-1 odds). The only horse to ever win this race with longer odds (91-1) was Donerail in 1911.
The actual race was absolutely thrilling as Rich Strike made his surprising jolt from the middle of the pack to the lead during the final leg of the race. He burst past betting favorites, Epicenter, and Zandon, at the last moment to win the race in shocking fashion.
According to SI.com, Rich Strike became only the second horse to win the Kentucky Derby from the 20th post position since the present-day starting gate was initiated in 1930, joining Big Brown in 2008. Also, before this victory, the horse had only won one other race in his career and didn’t even finish second during his previous five starts.
Not only was Rich Strike a long shot to win the race, but he was also a long shot to even be in the race. Heading into Derby week he was only an alternate, and not until a day before the race and 30 seconds before the deadline, did he enter into the 20-horse field after Ethereal Road pulled out of the race.
As improbable as this win was, Rich Strike’s trainer Eric Reed put it this way after the race: “Small trainer. Small rider. Small stable. We should have been 80-to-1. But I knew what I had. I knew what we had and what it was capable of, and if he ran good, anything could happen.”
Before the horses were out of the gates, it appeared impossible that Rich Strike would be victorious, but as sports remind us over and over, anything is possible. It’s why we keep watching and why we remain hopeful about our favorite teams, players…and horses!
For many of us today, we’re in the “starting gates” or beginning our week facing a situation that seems impossible to win. Experiencing a victory seems like such a long shot right now, and we’re looking for answers, praying for God to move, and facing “80-to-1 odds.”
Everything seems to indicate how improbable our circumstances are to turn out the way we wish they would and being able to get a win in our current “20th post position” seems unlikely.
However, these are the situations when God shows up in glorious, remarkable, miraculous ways. We have to remember that we serve a God who has shown over and over that He can accomplish the impossible, do the unimaginable, and help us overcome the longest of long-shot situations.
In Jeremiah 32:27 (ESV), God says, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for Me?”
Luke 1:37 (ESV) assures us that “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Matthew 19:26 (NLT) tells us, “Jesus looked at them intently and said, ‘Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.’”
So when we’re in the middle of our seemingly impossible challenges, we have to recite these verses and choose to believe in His incredible power. We must trust that He’s able to do anything and He will when it’s part of His plan.
We can also repeat this verse found in Job 42:2 (ESV): “I know that You can do all things and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”
Throughout the Bible, and in our own lives as we follow Jesus, things appear to be a “long shot.” But then God shows up, reveals His glory, and reminds us there’s nothing that He can’t do. This is why we’re able to remain hopeful as we continually place our faith in Him.
Rich Strike’s trainer Eric Reed said, “I knew what we had and what it was capable of, and if he ran good, anything could happen.”
Similarly, we know Who we have in God and what He’s capable of, and with His goodness and power, anything can happen!
Today, let’s declare, “‘Ah, Lord God! It is You who have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for You’” (Jeremiah 32:17; ESV).
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I believe in Your power and goodness. I trust You to do improbable things in my life and pray I’d give You all the glory and honor. I know nothing is too hard for You, so I trust You to come through in amazing ways. My hope is in You and You alone. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
- When has God previously shown up when things seemed like a long shot?
- What is your improbable situation today that feels impossible unless God intervenes?
