When God Stacks the Deck in Your Favor!
- Jen Campbell
- Feb 1
- 5 min read
Lately, I’ve been watching God heal people—physically, emotionally, spiritually—and it’s been stirring something deep in my heart.
Each time I see someone receive freedom, it feels like I receive a little more of my own healing. Layer by layer, God keeps revealing the parts of my heart that I didn’t know were still wounded. And even at 47, I’m learning things I never expected to face about my childhood, my story, and who God is in all of it.
Growing up, I didn’t know God. When I finally encountered Him as a messy 19-year-old with a damaged past, I felt like I was starting from scratch. I carried trauma I didn’t have words for and experiences I thought were just “normal childhood stuff.” Only as an adult has God shown me: No, that wasn’t normal. That was broken. And I’m here to heal it.
What amazes me is when I talk to people who seem like they have everything together—people who have followed Jesus 40, 50, even 70 years—and they tell me, “God is still healing things in me. He’s still revealing what’s hidden. He’s still walking me through new layers of freedom.”
It’s in moments like that I realize:
Healing isn’t a one-time event. It’s a lifelong journey.
Part of me finds that frustrating—I thought I’d be more “together” by now. But the other part finds deep relief. If healing is a lifelong process, then I don’t need to rush it. I can trust God with the pace. I can stop feeling like a spiritual failure just because I’m still learning.
Following Jesus Isn’t Safe—But It Is Good
Somewhere along the way, someone sold us the idea that following Jesus is safe, calm, simple. But real discipleship? Real surrender?
It stretches us.
It pushes us past our comfort zones.
It forces our flesh to surrender what feels safe for what brings life.
It’s not “safe" - but it is good.
And nowhere do we see that clearer than in Romans 8.
Romans 8: When God Stacks the Deck
I’ve spent so much time in Romans 8 lately that I joked I could teach on it for the rest of my life. The more I read it, the more I realize:God has stacked the deck in our favor.
From the opening verse, Paul declares:
“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
No condemnation
No shame.
No replaying our worst moments.
We’re not called to live from our past but from our position in Christ.
Then Paul continues:
“The law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
Not only are we forgiven—We are free.
He doesn’t stop there. Paul lists blessing after blessing:
We are not controlled by the flesh.
We are led by the Spirit.
We are adopted as sons and daughters.
We are heirs with Christ.
The same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead lives in us.
Every line is another reminder:God has positioned us to win.
Then Paul turns outward.
“All of creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.”
All of creation is waiting—not for perfect Christians, but for healed people who know who they are in Christ.
As we walk into freedom, creation tastes freedom through us.
When We Reach the End of Ourselves
There’s a moment we all face sooner or later: the end of ourselves.
I’ve hit that wall multiple times in my life—moments where I said:“God, I can’t do this anymore. I need you.”
My flesh hates that place. It wants control, safety, comfort. But Scripture tells us:
“My power is made perfect in weakness.”—2 Corinthians 12:9
Our weakness creates space for His strength.
We often avoid that edge, staying comfortable, staying safe, staying in control. But if we never reach our limits, we never see His limitless power.
Faith doesn’t grow in the shallow end.
It's forged where we're in over our heads.
When Life Happens
Life sends storms we didn’t sign up for:
A diagnosis
A broken marriage
A child wandering
A betrayal we never saw coming
We say to God, “I didn’t sign up for this.”
But even then, God works all things together for good. Not for comfort, but for good.
Just like Joseph said in Genesis:
“What the enemy meant for evil, God used for good.”
Many of us carry testimonies of that truth. The trial didn’t destroy us—it strengthened us.
Predestined, Called, Justified, Glorified - Stacking the Deck!
Then Romans 8 containes these two power-packed verses:
“For those God foreknew, He predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.”—Romans 8:29
“Those He called, He justified. Those He justified, He glorified.”—Romans 8:30
Here’s what that really means:
Foreknew: God knew you were coming.
Predestined: He set you apart to become like Jesus.
Called: He gave you a purpose.
Justified: He made you clean—as if you never sinned.
Glorified: He placed honor and spiritual authority on your life.
That’s not a formula.
That’s identity.
It means…
Your past can’t disqualify you.
Your trauma can’t define you.
No one else can decide your value.
God already decided.
Even the people we think are too far gone—the addict, the abuser, the offender—God is pursuing them too. If we're victims, we may not be the ones called to chase them, but God doesn’t stop loving them.
Guarding our Words
If God stacks the deck for every person we meet, we must treat them accordingly. Scripture calls Satan “the accuser of the brethren.” When we speak against people—neighbors, exes, strangers on the Internet—we partner with the wrong voice.
Before labeling someone as “crazy,” “idiot,” or “hopeless,” we should pause and ask:
“Lord, is that what You’re calling them?”
He never answers yes.
If God calls them loved, chosen, pursued—How can we speak anything less?
When God is For Us!
Paul continues on with a question that silences every fear:
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
The only one who can remove us from the love of God is us—by stepping into shame and disqualifying ourselves. When we mess up, we often stay distant, convinced we deserve punishment.
But Jesus already took the punishment.
He says:
“There is no condemnation. Come back in.”
We must learn the art of returning—quickly.
Your Life Is More Protected Than You Know
God has stacked the deck.
He placed His Spirit in us.He calls us His children.
He equips us to walk in love, power, and authority.
He speaks identity over us even when we feel broken.
We don’t earn it.
We just receive it.
And when we finally believe it—We walk differently.
Prayer
Lord, give us a deep understanding of everything You have placed at our backs. Help us speak life, not accusation. Remind us that we are called, justified, and loved. Teach us to return quickly when we fall and to live boldly from the truth:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
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