“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” — Joel 2:13
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Tykee Smith grew up in Philadelphia and started his college football career at West Virginia University, where he was a standout as a defensive back. He transferred to the University of Georgia and continued to excel, but his playing time was reduced by foot and knee injuries. At one point, he missed an entire season, but he refused to be discouraged and kept coming back. When he decided to remain at Georgia for his senior year, it bolstered the secondary, provided key leadership, and he intercepted several passes to help his team win often.
Now he seeks a pro career. He performed better than expected at the NFL combine, running a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, getting 36 inches in the vertical jump, and 120 inches in the broad jump. Scouts see his potential as a major contributor for a professional team. Smith is grateful that his injuries do not define him any longer. Injuries didn’t ruin his chances. He hopes to be drafted next month to play the game he loves.
When we sin, we injure ourselves (and often others as well), but that’s not the end of the story if, and when, we learn from our shortcomings and do better in the future. Though God doesn’t approve of our sins, He deals with us gently when we are truly repentant. When we admit our sins and forsake them, God forgives and we no longer have to suffer shame over our past sins. Through Christ, we can close the book on the dark chapters of our lives. “Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity” (Joel 2:13).
Jesus shed His blood on our behalf, and opened the way for us to be forgiven forever. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7). Since we tend to fall, we need someone to pick us up and restore us. The damage caused by sin could ruin us, but God is always ready to reclaim us despite how often we make disappointing choices. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24).
Don’t let your injuries define your story. Look to God to reclaim and refine you, and you will see your path paved with His grace and purpose.
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
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