“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” — James 1:12
God’s Bigger Plan
In a football game, going down by 25 points in the first half is usually not a good sign. Furthermore, going down by 25 points while throwing a near-pick-six and fumbling the ball on two crucial drives within the red zone would usually cause one to completely lose his composure.
Not Jalen Hurts. While battling the tough Baylor defense and hostile environment on Saturday night in Waco, Hurts led his team back from a 25-point deficit to overcome the undefeated Baylor Bears and win a crucial Big 12 rivalry game.
Hurts had far from the perfect performance. The aforementioned mistakes prevented his team from clawing back sooner, but as the old saying goes, “God has a plan.” Hurts’ demeanor never conveyed a sense of frustration or loss of poise, for the QB persisted. After struggling early on, Hurts finished the game with 114 yards rushing, 297 yards passing and four total touchdowns — with all of those touchdown passes occurring after the fumbles, pick and subsequent 28-3 Bears lead.
While Hurts’ game stats will be seen on the scorecard, his mental toughness is the real story of the game. I am sure he dreamt of this moment growing up. Primetime football against an undefeated opponent. A leader of a team in a must-win game. No picks, no fumbles, just TDs. But, as in life, most things do not go as we plan.
There will be trials, tribulations, pain and sorrow. Just as Hurts’ performance on Saturday, there will be ups and there will be downs. We will fail, and sometimes fail often, but as Christians, we must take heart and know that whatever we might go through, it’s all a part of God’s bigger plan for our lives. If we imitate Hurts’ poise and composure, and trust the Lord sincerely, we too can deal with whatever storm we are experiencing.
— James Sullivan
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