Falling Short...

Last night at the Varsity Game, Alec had the opportunity to run the ball several plays for several yards, and several 1st downs, driving, and driving the ball to the goal line...only to find out that on 3rd Down and 33 seconds left in the game, he was tackled at the goal line - 1 yard to go until a Touchdown. Because we were over 20 points ahead, the coaches decided to let the clock run down before calling another play and receiving another TD. It would've been Alec's first Varsity TD. The last Game of the Season before playoffs.

We were excited to see #6 on the field behind the ball! To see him in the game and playing so well! Cheering and praying and hoping...for his sake, that the runs would finally have their payoff!That there would be purpose in his pain (being on the bottom of a pile of lineman). Purpose in his struggle (carrying several guys on his back while they've grabbed hold of his jersey, his shoulders, his legs). Even purpose in his mistake -the fumble (redemption). Purpose in his fight (the attitude of pushing ahead against the pain, running around, through and sometimes into the obstacles, driving towards the goal)...only to find out in the end he fell short of the goal line. End of game.

After picking him up, the car was silent. He was disappointed, disheartened, and angry. But we couldn't help but tell him how excited and proud of him we were for how he ran, and played the game!!!

We serve a loving Father who wants to see us win. Winning doesn't always mean "meeting your goals." It's how you play the game - how you deal with the obstacles of life, the mistakes, the disappointments, the unmet goals. God is interested in the state of our heart and how we carry that out, not always in how we see winning to be. Sometimes he tests us to make sure we are qualified and can be trusted with his message (1 Thessalonians 2:3). Alec was tested last night, and he passed the test with flying colors. Sometimes we fall short of the goal, but that is ok. There are times where we feel we have fallen short, or failed...but have we??? God tells us in 1 Cor. 9:24 that we are to run in such a way that you may win (be victorious). The emphasis being on "in such a way".

How do you handle mistakes? Do you pick yourself up and keep going? Learn from a mistake? Do you give yourself the grace that is given to you? How do you handle the pressures of life, when you feel the burden of the enemy on your back? How do you handle running through life on a "planned course" only to be knocked down by a huge wall? How do you handle working and striving and pushing through, time after time, only to be stopped before the goal line...end of game? How do you handle disappointments?

#1. Know that you have a loving God coaching you and wanting the best for you, so that you may win in this life.
#2. Surround yourself with people who believe in you and challenge you.

James 1:2-4 "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. 5-8 If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought"