I receive a magazine each month from Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Les Steckel, who many remember as a coach in the NFL (Minnesota Vikings) is the President of FCA and he wrote this letter in this month's issue:
Picture yourself in this situation. It's Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, and you are up to bat for the home team. It's the bottom of the ninth inning. Your team is down by three, and the bases are loaded. Not only that, but since you were voted the American League MVP last season, you've got a lot to live up to.
Talk about expectations. Everybody in your dugout, the fans in the stands, everyone watching on TV, your family, all the higher-ups in the front office - they all expect you to do something special. Your mind is racing, I need to hit this thing out of the park. My team needs a grand slam. That's what they expect. That's what everyone expects.
Do you ever feel like that - like you've got a lot to live up to? Like you have to meet an unreasonably high level of expectation?
Well, I want to share something with you - something that I've learned from situations like those. If you hit a grand slam, hallelujah! Those grand slams happen from time to time. But in our lives, we can't expect to hit a home run every time we go to the plate.
Every great player strikes out, and so do you and I. But when we strike out, we have to realize that it's not the end of the world. Most likely, a day will come when we will have another chance. It may not be the same exact situation, but there will be another opportunity for great achievement. That's one of the unique things about living the Christian life. Sometimes God wants to see how you handle failures before He gives you victories.
Do you remember watching this year's Super Bowl? Colts Head Coach Tony Dungy went through what seemed like so many personal and professional defeats during his career. But through it all, the world watched as he walked by faith and never took his focus off of Christ. And look what happened! After he endured many trials and defeats, he was blessed with the ultimate NFL victory.
This month, whatever you're facing, whatever expectations are threatening to crush you, I challenge you to turn it all over to the Lord. He has a perfect plan for you. And not matter what the outcome, you can't forget that He's watching. Not only that, but He's cheering you on. He wants you to trust Him and to praise Him, win or lose. And once you learn to do that, He may grant you the victory that you've awaited so long.
Are you up to the challenge? I expect that you are.
"But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
1 Corinthians 15:57
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