God's Coaching #30

God's Coaching #30

The Flying Tomato got bruised—fortunately not juiced—at the 2010 Winter X Games. Shaun White, nicknamed “The Flying Tomato” for his red hair and high-flying tricks, took a scary fall in the half-pipe as he tried to land a Double McTwist 1260.

While that may sound like a delicious fast food sandwich, the Double McTwist 1260 was actually one of the most dangerous tricks in snowboarding. Just imagine shooting off the lip of the half-pipe and traveling 20 feet into the air. Then you have to complete two head-over-heels flips and three and a half twists. Oh yeah, don’t forget to land upright, because gravity will be pulling you back to earth.

When Shaun came back to earth in a practice run before the snowboarding finals, he misjudged where he was in the air, slipped, and smacked his head on the icy edge of the pipe. His helmet popped off and flew 15 feet. Fortunately, his head stayed squarely attached to his neck. Just minutes after the wreck, Shaun was back taking another practice run.

What’s the Score?

When Shaun White’s head hit the side of the cement-hard half-pipe, fans wondered if he’d be able to get up. Some thought his chances of competing in the Olympics in a couple of weeks would be dashed. Not only did he walk away from the scary fall, but he also won the Winter X Games gold medal an hour later—his third-straight half-pipe title.

Competing in snowboarding is risky. God doesn’t want us to take unnecessary risks in our lives. We need to use our brains and not put ourselves in danger. But sometimes even when we’re careful, we can find ourselves in scary situations. God promises to never leave us. Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.” God is there to protect us and walk us through difficult times. Turn to God when you’re injured or nervous about what’s going on around you. He can protect you.

On the Ball

When you find yourself in a slippery situation, don’t forget to pray to God. He’s always close to you and can help direct your steps. Even when you fall down, God can pick you up and give you the strength to keep going.

Coach’s Comment

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:2