So That We Can Comfort

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

1 Corinthians 1:3-4

So often we, the casual fan, forget that it takes a lot more than 53 players to make an NFL team successful. The forgotten players are those destined to be cut after training camp, those who will sweat away on the practice squad, and those that will bounce from one team to the next. All of these players are important to an NFL team. They challenge, push, and improve the players that get to play in the regular season. These athletes pour everything they have into the hope of making it onto the 53 member roster. For many their life dream is within reach, only to be cut or not make the team. Disappointment, heart ache, and failure surely haunt them.

Justin Forsett is a 9 year NFL Veteran, pro bowl running back, and a player who was cut six times. Forsett sent out a note encouraging players who also experienced the hurt of not making the team. He acknowledged the feelings, comforted the pain, and he provided examples for how players can better themselves.

Justin Forsett was simply giving to others what he himself had received. As the Apostle Paul tells the church in Corinth, God the Father is our source of compassion and comfort in our times of trouble. Forsett took his life experiences that God helped him get through and comforted those who are going through similar trials.

Today if you are going through a troubling time, know that God is the Father of compassion and will comfort you during this tough time. If today is a day that you are reflecting on a time when God comforted you, then seek an opportunity to share that comfort with someone else who is going through a challenging time.

– Shane Haffey, Sports Spectrum reader

If you would like to submit a reader devotional, please email all submissions to jason@pao.org.