How to find life-changing hope through football

Tired? Lonely? Beat up? Stuck? Depressed? Broken? Sick? Bored?
Cancer? Divorce? Unemployment? Foreclosure? Bankruptcy?

Breathe. Hope is here. 2 words: WE WIN.

3 years ago someone gave away the score of a football game I was hoping to watch later. Brazil beat the US 3-2. Crazy. If you don’t know much about soccer, let me put it this way, a 3-2 score is the equivalent of a 140-138 basketball score.

5 goals in one game is so rare I decided to watch a game that had already been decided.

To my surprise the US was up 2-0 by half. Again, to put this in the perspective of a different sport, a 2-0 deficit in soccer is like being down 4 touchdowns in American football. Not looking good but its okay cause I know how this ends right? Brazil wins.

Oh look. Brazil scored in the 46th minute. 2-1. Lets go.

30 minutes goes by with no more goals and I start to get nervous. Maybe the info was wrong. Maybe they were talking about another game. I go online to double check the scores to the game.

3-2 Brazil wins.

What? There is 15 minutes left in the game and the other team is only playing defense. This makes no sense. And why am I nervous?

Seriously. I’m freaking out right now. My heart is racing.

Brazil looks over-matched and are down big. Some fans are leaving and the commentators are talking like this is over.
Even I’m watching like its over. But the score...ah!

74th minute goal. Game tied. Hope. One more. So close now.

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.

Unbelievable. Brazil takes the lead in the last 6 minutes. Un-flipping-believable.

Or is it?

Depends on what scoreboard you’re looking at. The one at half time or the one that was already decided before you started watching.

Sometimes life feels like a vastly over-matched blow out game.

Its hard to find hope because you can see in the eyes of those trying to encourage you that they don’t really believe a comeback is likely.

You’d quit but too many people are depending on you so you go through the motions anxiously awaiting the final whistle of defeat.

It’s bad.

Jesus knows this so he gives away the score of the game you’re trying to engage. He wins the game before we ever hit the field.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

Brothers, sisters... take heart.

We win. We win.

WE WIN.

Today I want us to pray for each other. I promise to pray for every comment. Not just a courtesy prayer but trusting God with you to do big things.

In what areas of your life are you experiencing trouble [behind in the game]? Where could you use some hope?

If you don't need prayer, who is someone in your life that I can pray for?

Regulars, please join in and pray for and with people as you also share your prayers.