“I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all.” – Ecclesiastes 9:11

It can be hard to feel like our efforts matter when we see others who are seemingly faster, stronger, or luckier than us. That’s why the words of Ecclesiastes 9:11 hit home so powerfully. The preacher of wisdom looked at the world and saw a simple truth: “The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to them all.” Let’s be honest, we often live as if life is a perfect meritocracy, where only the most talented deserve the spoils. But the Bible tells us otherwise. It acknowledges that sometimes the strongest team loses, the smartest person goes overlooked, and the most diligent worker doesn’t get the raise. This is not a message of randomness; it’s a message of profound, human-level hope rooted in the Gospel. It means that success, a chance at impact, or a shot at greatness, is not reserved for an elite few, but is part of the sovereign plan where every single life has value and potential because it is made in the image of God.

The powerful phrase is “time and chance happen to them all.” In the Christian life, this isn’t merely fate; it’s Providence. The ‘chance’ is God’s grace offering an opportunity, and the ‘time’ is set by His perfect timing. And the ultimate example of this truth is Christ Himself. The Son of God, who was not of noble birth or worldly power, who chose to associate with the overlooked and the un-swift, became the greatest force in human history. His life assures us that true, eternal greatness is not measured by earthly metrics like speed or strength, but by sacrifice, love, and faithfulness to the Father’s will. When the world tries to disqualify you for not being “enough,” remember that Christ’s finished work qualifies you to receive and act upon the divine opportunities God has prepared specifically for you (Ephesians 2:10).

So, if we can’t control the timing or the chance itself, what is our great Christian work? Preparation and dependence. We are called to be faithful and diligent in the mundane, to hone our gifts, and strengthen our character through the power of the Holy Spirit, even when no one is watching. Because when that unexpected moment of God’s “time and chance” finally meets your persistent preparation and your dependence on Christ, that is the moment you step into your unique version of greatness a greatness that brings glory to God, serves humanity, and is exactly what you were redeemed for. Don’t quit, don’t stop learning, and don’t lose sight of the cross. Your divinely-appointed time is coming.