That's When God Showed Up!

A friend of mine who’s a high school football coach has had a rough couple of weeks. His first game, his team lost 64-0. His second game, his team lost 49-0. Suffice it to say, he wasn’t looking forward to the third game. He’s never started a season 0-2, let alone 0-2 and not having scored any points.

Yesterday morning while catching up with him on what’s going on in his world, I asked him how he was doing and told him that I’d read on Dallasmorningnews.com that his team was down 27-0 at the half on Friday night. His response, “oh girl, I’m fine, ‘cuz at the half, that's when God showed up.” I paused for a moment and then began to laugh as he explained to me that the storms that had cancelled/postponed many of the games in North Texas on Friday night, finally reached their field during half-time, causing the refs to call the game.

I laughed because so many times in my life, that’s exactly what happens! It may have taken 2½ games for God to ‘show up’ with thunder and lightening to have mercy on a group of high-school football players that have yet to score this season, but hey, what counts is that He showed up!

I smile now as I think about the countless times I’ve begged God for mercy, beat my head against numerous walls, thought He’d forgotten me, but then when I least expected it, my 11:59:59 PM God shows up in high fashion with thunder and lightening and I (like those football players) with much relief, hustle off the field to refresh and regroup.

On my iPhone, my signature line includes the scripture Isaiah 49:15-16 as a personal reminder that God has not and will not forget me, that he will ALWAYS show up. Something I need to hear sometimes at least three times a day.

I encourage you, if you’re struggling, and the ‘other team’ seems to be using you as their proverbial mop, stay on the field, don’t give up, you may lose a few, but know that you know that you know, that God WILL show up!


Heavens, raise the roof! Earth, wake the dead! Mountains, send up cheers! God has comforted his people. He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up, beaten-down people. But Zion said, "I don't get it. God has left me. My Master has forgotten I even exist."

"Can a mother forget the infant at her breast, walk away from the baby she bore? But even if mothers forget, I'd never forget you—never. Look, I've written your names on the palms of my hands."
Isaiah 49:13-16 (MSG)