God's Coaching #90

God's Coaching #90

François Bon liked to ski. But the Frenchman’s version of skiing was, uh, a tad extreme. François was into speed-riding, which means he basically climbed to the top of the world’s highest mountains . . . and then jumped off. Speed-riding mixes snow skiing and paragliding at ridiculously high speeds. For each run, François climbed to a mountain’s peak (which often took more than a week) and then launched off with only a small, controllable paragliding sail coming out of a backpack and a pair of skis to guide him.

As François sped down sheer mountainsides at 50 to 100 miles per hour, his skis only touched down when the mountain grade leveled off a bit. When it steepened again, he went airborne. On March 31, 2008, François gained international fame by conquering Argentina’s Aconcagua, the highest summit in the Western Hemisphere at 22,834 feet. By the time he stopped, he had plummeted 9,000 feet in four minutes and 50 seconds.

What’s the Score?

As a speed-rider, François entrusted his life to a small nylon sail and a pair of skis. There was no guarantee he’d survive any attempt because his equipment wasn’t 100 percent trustworthy. Nothing man-made in life is. If his equipment failed, he probably would have died. In the seventh century BC, the nation of Judah needed something trustworthy. The ruthless Assyrian Empire ruled the ancient world, with Egypt and Babylonia jockeying for power, too. With so much surrounding chaos, the people of Judah probably felt like they were free-falling down an icy mountain.

So God sent the prophet Nahum to comfort his people. Nahum encouraged them to trust in God, because God was strong enough to protect them in times of trouble. Nahum 1:7 says, “The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.” Keeping our faith in God is an important lesson for us today, too. Things in life don’t always go our way. But we should always trust God, whether circumstances are good or bad. He is always trustworthy—or dependable—because he is holy, all-knowing, and all-powerful. He will never fail.

On the Ball

The next time something bad happens, ask God for help. Prayer is a great way to show trust in God.

Coach’s Comment

The LORD is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7