Underdog Energy

Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026

Meet Gideon. He’s not exactly hero material at first glance. When we find him, he’s threshing wheat in a winepress; basically hiding in a hole because he’s terrified of the Midianites. And what does God call him? “Mighty warrior.” God isn’t being sarcastic; He’s speaking to Gideon’s future, not his present. Gideon is full of what-ifs and “where are the miracles” questions, but God answers his insecurity with one promise: “I will be with you.” Don’t you love that? Don’t YOU need to hear that today?!

In the grand narrative of Scripture, Gideon is a classic example of God choosing the “weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Throughout the Bible, God bypasses the flashy and the powerful to use the insecure and the overlooked. Why? So that when the victory comes, there’s no doubt who actually did the heavy lifting. This points directly to the Gospel, where salvation comes not through a conquering general on a stallion, but through a Carpenter on a cross. Gideon’s fleece moments show his humanity, but God’s patience shows His grace.

Psalm 61 is the perfect soundtrack for Gideon’s winepress experience. It’s the cry of someone whose heart is faint, asking to be led to “the rock that is higher than I.” We all have winepress moments where we feel small and the enemy feels massive. But Gideon’s story reminds us that our identity isn’t found in our current level of bravery or success. It’s found in the mouth of the One who calls us. If God says you’re a warrior, it doesn’t matter if you’re currently hiding in a hole. His Presence is the game changer.

Devotional Prompts:

In what areas of your life do you feel like you’re hiding in a winepress due to fear or insecurity?
How would your perspective change if you believed God’s assessment of you (Mighty Warrior) more than your own feelings?
Why do we often ask for signs (like Gideon’s fleece) even after God has clearly spoken His Word?

Prayer: Lord, when my heart is faint, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Thank You for seeing the warrior in me even when I am hiding in fear; help me trust Your presence more than my circumstances. Amen.