“Are you too comfortable?” by Justin March
Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week. Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.
The Huskers were up big! The offense was driving up and down the field, the defense was suffocating, and those Nittany Lions were struggling. It was a dominant performance, and at halftime, it looked like this victory was going to be a breeze. But I have been a Husker fan way too long, and if there is one thing I know, it is to never get comfortable until the final whistle blows.
As it turns out, my instincts were correct. The Big Red came out flat in the second half. The team struggled to score, they made mistakes, and the opponent gained momentum. I do not know if they got lazy or overconfident, but what once looked like victory, was in danger of becoming defeat. They needed somebody to step up. They needed someone to make one more play. And they needed a leader who would overcome adversity and close out this win.
The offense could not do it. They could not move the ball, run out the clock, or promise a victory. Those Nittany Lions were gaining ground. With each passing minute, their momentum grew. They were becoming stronger, they were becoming confident, and they were ready to take advantage of our lack of preparation and perseverance. The Huskers had played a great game, but somehow this opponent had a chance to ruin the day.
Somebody had to step up. Someone had to make one more play. A leader needed to emerge, and it needed to happen quick. And that is when the defense decided they would bow up, carry this team, and stop that opponent from crossing the finish line. They decided they would use every ounce of energy, they would be strong when it mattered, and they would win this fight. And when the final whistle blew, the Huskers stood tall with a victory.
Maybe our journeys are like this football game. Do we get too comfortable when times are good? Do we let down our guard, do we get lazy at times, or do we become overconfident when victory seems near? Do we allow the evil one to sneak up on us, gain momentum, and stay in the game? Are we on the field, sticking to the game plan, and executing every move with the precision God intended? If not, I can tell you this. If we are not focused, prepared, and using every ounce of energy, our opponent will be waiting to snatch that victory.
God needs leaders to step up in times of adversity. He needs our lights to shine through the darkness. He has trained, guided, and provided the tools needed for us to execute and win. But it takes work. It takes focus, perseverance, and strength to play every down. We must be ready for obstacles, momentum changes, storms, and trials. And we must know that victory is not ours until we have done what has been asked of us, shown others the truth, and spread joy, peace, and love on this earth. It will not be easy, and the opponent will be prepared to stop us.
So, pick up that bible. Read those messages and share them with your teammates. Put on the full armor of God and be ready to battle. Pray, listen, and prepare for what God has planned. And if you do all this, if you follow the path that our “coach” has laid out for us, and if you become the leader God needs you to be, you will be ready for whatever happens on that field. And when the final whistle blows, when the clock shows 0:00, and when the enemy has been exhausted, you will be able to stand tall with the only victory that matters in this life!