A Champion's Hope

Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. – Isaiah 40:30-31

This Memorial Day Weekend, our youngest teenage daughter played in a soccer tournament near Denver.  Instead of attending BBQs, fun runs, outdoor festivals, and Sunday Church service, we, along with hundreds of other families cheered from the sidelines, hoping for a championship trophy.  My husband keeps saying that “it’s just youth soccer,” but his furrowed brow and restless pacing tell me he doesn’t really believe that.

Soccer cleats of all sizes were in constant motion over the thirty or so fields in the sprawling complex.  The little ones make me smile. Their uniforms hang down past their tiny knees as they trip over the ball and tumble over one another.  For these kids, the half-time snack is the highlight of the game.  

That all changes by the time they reach their teens.  They now play at top speed with a laser sharp focus.  With an almost desperate intensity, parents and coaches yell from the sidelines, erupting with every goal, foul, and missed call by the referees. 

When the final whistle blows, one team walks away as the champions, while the other drives home with their dreams deflated, wondering why second place feels like a million miles away from first.  

I wonder what God thinks of all this.  As He oversees all our daily activities, I picture Him much like a mellower version of the parents and coaches on the sidelines. He’s cheering each one of us on, day after day.  When we grow tired and weary, He’s there to renew our strength, when we place our hope in Him.  

Placing our HOPE in God can be as simple as… 

• Remembering to thank Him for the beautiful weather or our healthy bodies.
• Believing in His available strength, even in the midst of life’s huge distractions.  
• Trusting His good plans for our lives whether we win or lose the game.

Yes, our strength will be renewed when we listen to God’s voice above the crowd.  His voice will remind us that Jesus endured great opposition, defeated the grave and rose victoriously.  Jesus won, therefore we win.  So don’t lose heart or grow weary (Hebrews 12:3).  When we place our faith and hope in Jesus, there’s no second place, you win the grand prize: eternal life in heaven and abundant life on earth. 

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