Don't Throw Your Faith Under the Bus

Journal-Review
February 5, 2010

I threw them under the bus.

My team, the Indianapolis Colts, fell behind to the New York Jets 17-6 in the American Football Conference championship game. “It’s over,” is all I could utter as I watched in disgust the green and white clad Jets run around, over and through the Colts defense. It was as if the defensive coordinator for Indianapolis had no idea that on nearly every third series this season the Jets throw the ball long.

Sure enough, during the third time the Jets had the ball, New York scored on an 80-yard touchdown strike. To make matters worse, the Colts were on a successful drive to the end zone when they decided to kick a field goal instead of going for the touchdown.

Right at the end of the half, though, quarterback Peyton Manning and the offense must have figured some things out. A touchdown strike in the closing minutes of the first half made the score 17-13. “Wouldn’t it be great,” I said to my wife Jenny, “if that was all the points the Jets would score in the game?”

Well, I wish I could take credit for having complete confidence in the men in blue and white. My off-hand comment was more of a wish, a that-is-never-going-to-happen sarcastic comment.

For those of you who are football fans, you know the rest of the story. The Colts negated the No. 1 defense in the National Football League by outscoring the Jets 17-0 in the second half, to walk away with a 30-17 victory and a trip to the Super Bowl.

My theory about my negativity toward the Colts is this: it helps me to deal with the heartbreak of disappointment. This way, by predicting defeat when the first few obstacles arrive, I theorize the hurt will not be so devastating should defeat occur.

Of course, along the way, I make people around me miserable. I can’t enjoy the good things (like seeing the football sail through uprights) that might occur even though the team makes mistakes. Instead of enjoying the spirit of competition I am too busy dreading the agony of defeat.

I have been thinking about that pressure-packed Sunday afternoon. I believe there are parallels to our walk with Jesus Christ. When problems occur, we often spend our time spinning our wheels complaining about the problems. We spend so much time analyzing them we become paralyzed. We refuse to let ourselves even think victory is possible. Any ray of sunshine is overcome by our dark clouds of negativity.

Of course, life is far more valuable than a football game. Instead of despair, we need to practice some trust. We need more than an intelligent, strong-armed, quarterback to lead us through life. We need Jesus. “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” Jesus said.

So whatever deficit you are facing in this life, do not give up. Instead, put your energies in trusting Christ to see you through. Keep praying and keep believing. The ancient proverb remains true:

“Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Take it from experience – the halftime score of the Super Bowl has little or no bearing on the final outcome. Go Colts!