Last week, the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Detroit Lions in the opening game of the 2023-24 season of the National Football League. The Chiefs were heavily favored to win the contest—and for good reason. Last season, the Chiefs scored 29.2 points per game (first in NFL) finished 14-3 and won the Super Bowl. The Lions, on the other hand, didn’t fare as well. They allowed 25.1 per game (last in the NFL defensively) finished 9-8, and failed to make the playoffs. So the team who scored the most points per game and won the Lombardi trophy was pitted against the team that allowed the most points and didn’t come close to making the playoffs. Most assumed that this game would be a lopsided affair. However, much to everyone’e surprise, the Lions’ triumphed.

Well, to everyone’s surprise except Dan Campbell, the head coach of the Lions. When asked if he was surprised that his team won, Campbell responded “no.” He went on to say that he “didn’t learn anything new about his team.” He said “everything he already knew” was just “verified.”

To verify means to “confirm accuracy or truth by action or by evidence.” When I verify, I am proving that an assessment, idea, evaluation, concept, or belief is true. What Coach Campbell was saying is that the Lions’ win over the reigning Super Bowl Champs proved that his team is as good as he thinks they are. He had a idea of their greatness in his mind. But it took their victory on the field to verify it. Campbell already believed in his team. Now everyone else does. That victory wasn’t for him. It was for everyone else.

All of us have ideas about our abilities, ideas, and plans. But those ideas are less than helpful until they can be verified. You can say and believe anything about yourself. But until those statements and beliefs are verified, we are only legends in our own minds. Verification brings clarity, builds confidence and buys credibility. Some victories are not for you. Some of your victories are designed to verify your value for others!

Jesus intimated as much during one of the most amazing miracles that he performed. His friend Lazarus was sick, and Jesus was summoned to his beside. When he arrived, Lazarus was dead. Many people, including the two sisters of Lazarus, were disappointed by Jesus' late arrival, and made their disappointment public. But instead of being disappointed by their disappointment, Jesus informed his friends that the entire situation was under divine control, and was being orchestrated to deepen their faith and their understanding of who he was. Jesus asked to be taken to the tomb where Lazarus lay. Then, according to John 11:41-42, this is what happened:

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”

Jesus did not ask God to raise Lazarus from the dead for him. Jesus already knew who he was and what he could do. Jesus asked God to raise Lazarus from the dead for them. This miracle did not provide any new information to Jesus. It provided verification to those who doubted him. The victory was not for him. It was for everyone else.

Someone reading this blog is engaged in a very challenging battle. You may have even wondered why the battle you are currently engaged in is even necessary. Even battle tested veterans can get frustrated and ask themselves “why this?”, ‘why me?”, and “why now?.” But perhaps the battle you’re facing is not designed to provide you with any new information. Perhaps it is designed to provide your enemies, critics, and doubters with verification.

God doesn’t want you to be the only one who knows how gifted, strong, creative, or powerful you are. So he strategically arranges battles on our behalf to broadcast our capabilities to the widest possible audience. Everyone else will be surprised when they find out who you are and what you can do.

Everyone of course, except you.

Your coming victory won’t be for you. It will be for them.