The 2025 NCAA Basketball Tournament organizers thoughtlessly scheduled my team’s game during the exact time I was committed to be a part of a Bible study at church. So, not wanting to put basketball ahead of God, I went on to the study and recorded the game for later viewing. After the Bible study session ended, I learned that the game was over, and my team had won!  

When I got home, I watched the whole game – fast-forwarding through timeouts, commercials and halftime comments – with a calm smile on my face, no worrying, no beating my head against the wall, no knots in my stomach – totally enjoying my popcorn. Because… I knew how the game would end; I knew my team would win. In fact, they had already won! 

And then it hit me. Why are we not smiling? Why are we worrying? Why are we beating our heads against the wall? Why do we have knots in our stomach? Haven’t we already won? 

Paul wrote, … in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (Romans 8:37) 

We know that there is an evil one who has his own game plan for us – a plan to distract us and confuse us, cause us to doubt that we are enough, cause us to feel defeated and give up. In spite of all that and more, Paul reminds believers that because Christ is in us, we don’t just win – we are “more than conquerors” – over-the-top conquerors! The Amplified version makes an even stronger statement: Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. In other words, we don’t just win; we win BIG. 

Do you think perhaps God wants us to know that He has already won big, so that we’ll quit worrying about stuff and live into our kingdom purpose with confidence, peace, and a calm smile on our face – and no knots in our stomach?  

And another thing… did you notice that Paul did not write that we WILL BE more than conquerors – he wrote that we ARE more than conquerors! The winner has been declared! If you’re wondering how I know, take some time to read straight through the book of Revelation – and you’ll get what Anne Graham Lotz calls “A Vision of His Glory.” 

So, dear believer, stand tall, lean into the truth of God’s promises, and live like the victorious over-the-top conqueror that God says you are! 

By Judy Shrout