God's Coaching #46

God's Coaching #46

The third time wasn’t a charm. The twentieth time was—at least it was for Dale Earnhardt at the Daytona 500. Dale was considered by many to be the best NASCAR driver of all time. But NASCAR’s great prize kept eluding him during his amazing career.

The Daytona 500 is kind of like the Super Bowl of NASCAR. It’s called “The Great American Race,” and it is the biggest, richest, and most prestigious event in car racing. When Dale pulled up to the starting line in 1998, the Daytona 500 was the only race he had never won. He’d tried for 19 years! He’d come close. He had dominated many Daytonas but had lost in lots of different ways, including a flipped car, a blown tire on the last lap, and a final-lap pass.

Finally, 1998 was Dale’s year. His No. 3 car ran in the lead for 107 of the 200 laps and was in first for the last 60 laps. He even held off a furious charge by Bobby Labonte and Jeremy Mayfield at the end. Finally, Dale had made it into the winner’s circle at the Daytona 500.

What’s the Score?

What have you been working on for a long time but can’t seem to accomplish? What hangs over your head and won’t go away? What makes you cry out to God, “How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?” (Okay, maybe you wouldn’t say it exactly like that.)

It can be easy to give up when we struggle for a long time. But when we stay patient and persistent, we give God a chance to work. Waiting is tough. But it doesn’t mean being lazy; we need to stay active. Keep working toward your goal. Keep trying. Instead of sitting around thinking about quitting, try these ideas from Psalm 13:5-6: Trust in God’s unfailing love; celebrate because God has saved you; and sing to the Lord because he is good.

On the Ball

Sing your favorite worship song to God and pray, “Lord, it’s been so long that ________ just won’t seem to happen. Please help me to trust you with it.”

Coach’s Comment

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand? Psalm 13:2