God's Coaching #338

God's Coaching #338

This tweet was not so sweet. During the 2010 NFL season, Bills wide receiver Steve Johnson had a chance to upset the highly favored Pittsburgh Steelers with a game-winning catch. The Bills and the Steelers were tied at 16–16 in overtime when Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick lofted a beautiful 40-yard pass to Steve and into the end zone. But unexplainably Steve dropped it. On their next possession, the Steelers won the game on a field goal. After the game, Steve posted this message on his Twitter account: “I PRAISE YOU 24/7!!!!!! AND THIS HOW YOU DO ME!!!!! YOU EXPECT ME TO LEARN FROM THIS??? HOW???!!! ILL NEVER FORGET THIS!! EVER!!! THX THO . . .”

Steve’s tweet presumably directed blame for the loss at God. Steve seemed to be saying, “God, why is this happening to me? Is this your best plan? Don’t I deserve better?”

What’s the Score?

Steve’s pattern of thinking was a familiar one. Humans have been asking those questions since the world began. When things don’t go as we had hoped, we often ask, “Why, God?”

Seven hundred years before Christ came to earth, Habakkuk asked the same thing. Habakkuk was an Old Testament prophet who predicted the Babylonian invasions of Judah as divine punishment for Judah’s flagrant idolatry against God. But Habakkuk didn’t understand why God would punish Judah using a nation more wicked than itself. He questioned God’s wisdom and goodness.

But here’s a better question: Who are we to question God?

God is the holy creator of all things and the perfect author of goodness. We, on the other hand, are human. Anything good that we receive is a gift of God’s mercy. God’s definition of goodness is far different from ours. He often uses difficult situations in our lives—even those that are painful—to produce ultimate good. He can do this because he is all-knowing and all-powerful. We often can’t see God’s good purposes because we have a very limited understanding. Habakkuk eventually realized this. The last three verses of his Old Testament book show his change of heart. He went from questioning God’s goodness to trusting and praising God, even if he didn’t fully understand what God was doing.

On the Ball

Read the book of Habakkuk and see how Habakkuk eventually learned not to question God’s goodness. When things don’t go as you had hoped, follow Habakkuk’s example.

Coach’s Comment

Even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! Habakkuk 3:17-18