The New York Yankees' Aaron Boone, center, celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the 11th inning to beat the Boston Red Sox in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, Oct. 16, 2003. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” — Joshua 1:9
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There’s nothing quite like a Game 7.
It’s the pinnacle of pressure, the moment when everything is on the line. No more second chances. Every play matters. Every decision carries weight. Game 7 is when legends are born and legacies are cemented. And as spectators, we’re glued to the screen on a night when sports and cinema collide.
I’ve been fortunate to be alive for some amazing Game 7s. There seems to always be a defining moment in each of them, too.
• The 1997 World Series: The Edgar Renteria walk-off base hit.
• The 2001 World Series: The Luis Gonzalez walk-off base hit.
• The 2003 MLB American League Championship Series: The Aaron Boone walk-off home run.
• The 2006 MLB National League Championship Series: The Adam Wainwright curveball to end it.
• The 2016 NBA Finals: The LeBron chase-down block.
• The 2017 2017 NHL Eastern Conference Finals: The Chris Kunitz overtime goal.
• The 2019 NBA Finals: The Kawhi Leonard game-winner.
The list goes on.
But what about the Game 7 moments in our lives? That diagnosis. That job interview or loss. That conversation that could change everything. That step of obedience when the future feels uncertain. The defining moments of our faith.
Spiritually speaking, we all face Game 7 moments — seasons where the pressure is high, the outcome unclear and the stakes feel overwhelming. It’s in those moments we’re tempted to rely on our own strength, to panic, to freeze, or to run.
Yet God calls us to a different posture: strength and courage grounded in His presence.
When Joshua stood on the edge of the Promised Land, it was his Game 7. Moses was gone. The leadership mantle was his. Ahead of him lay enemies, uncertainty and the enormous responsibility of leading God’s people into a new chapter. But God didn’t give Joshua a battle plan first. He gave him a promise: “I will be with you wherever you go” (see verse above).
That’s the secret of a Game 7 faith. It’s not about how strong we are, but how present God is.
Athletes often say that pressure doesn’t create character, it reveals it. The same is true in our spiritual lives. When the pressure is on, what’s revealed? Fear or faith? Panic or prayer?
The good news is, even when we’re weak, Jesus is strong. Even when we fumble, He is faithful. And even when the scoreboard of life looks like we’re losing, we know the ultimate victory is already won because of the cross and the empty tomb.
So whether you’re in a Game 7 moment right now, or one is on the horizon, remember this: God is not pacing nervously on the sidelines. He’s with you. He’s in you. He’s fighting for you.
— Cole Claybourn
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