Coming Back

COMING BACK from a three-games-to-one deficit in a seven-game playoff is one of the most difficult feats in sports. The pressure is immense as one more loss will end the season for good. But in 2000, the New Jersey Devils surprised the Philadelphia Flyers to advance to the National Hockey League championship series.

New Jersey’s Stanley Cup prospects appeared bleak as they trailed the Flyers 3–1. But the Devils rebounded with a 4–1 road win and a 2–1 triumph at home. The two victories forced a seventh and deciding game in Philadelphia.

In the seventh game, New Jersey took the early lead on a first-period power play. Jason Arnott fired a pass from behind the net through the legs of defenseman Chris Therien to Patrik Elias, who shot the puck past goalie Brian Boucher.

The Flyers knotted the contest with 6:01 left in the second period as Rick Tocchet scored. With the third period drawing to a close, the contest appeared to be headed into overtime. But as the time ticked down to less than three minutes, New Jersey’s Arnott centered the puck toward the net. Elias lifted the stick of defenseman Dan McGillis in the slot. Sneaking off his check, Elias flipped a shot over Boucher’s right shoulder. Philadelphia never regrouped, and New Jersey rode the 2–1 triumph into the Stanley Cup finals.

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POINT Needing only one victory in three games, Philadelphia most likely had no doubt they would play in the Stanley Cup finals. Their fans could taste it. The players could see it. But Philadelphia lost first one, then two, then three games in a row.

In life, like in sports, situations change. What we believe will happen doesn’t always happen. What we think should happen sometimes changes.

Solomon is considered the wisest man in the Bible. He wrote several books, including Ecclesiastes. In that book, he reminds us that we can’t tell the future. Instead of counting our victories before the final whistle, we need to trust God.

GOAL! Surely you have dreams and goals for your future. And you should! God has dreams for you too. His dreams go far beyond what you could imagine, but you have to stay close to him to find out what he has planned for you. Ask God to help you accept his choices.