“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Fisher attended every high school home and away football game because his best friends from his neighborhood were playing. A genetic condition limited Fisher to a wheelchair, so time on the sidelines is all he and his parents ever expected. Fisher cheered loudly! Every time a touchdown was scored, fans could hear Fisher yell, “THAT WAS AWESOME!”

Over the past seven years, head football coach Dave Adams has created a culture of kindness and acceptance on his varsity football team which has trickled into the school community. Coach Adams led the varsity boys in FCA team Huddles and lived out his faith on the sidelines and every day.

Coach Adams quickly noticed how much football and friends meant to Fisher. Wanting to further instill kindness in the hearts of his players, Coach Dave Adams created a priceless moment in time for his team, Fisher’s family, the school community and everyone else involved.

On the evening of the last home game, Coach Adams and the head coach from the rival team agreed to bring the teams together for the “Fisher” play before kickoff.

The night before the game, Coach Adams invited Fisher to attend practice. At practice, the team gave Fisher a game helmet (signed by the team) and official receiving gloves. Then the team practiced Fisher’s play. The ball would be snapped to Fisher and his teammates would wheel him down the field, hopefully into the end zone! Coach Adams taught Fisher how to hold and tuck the ball. Everyone was ready.

Fisher never thought he would have the opportunity to step onto a real football field.

On game day, all of the players and coaches on both teams were talking up Fisher’s play. Both sides were excited to be a part of this special moment.

Both teams knew the play. The home team snapped the ball to Fisher, and he held it tightly as his friends pushed him in his wheelchair straight through the defensive line, down the field and right into the end zone where all of the fans were cheering him on and waiting for him. Fisher scored! The crowd roared! Every one of the excited and joy-filled football players gave Fisher a fist bump to congratulate him on his touchdown!

At the sight of his mom, Fisher’s emotions overtook him and through joyful tears, Fisher yelled, “THAT WAS AWESOME!”

While our finite eyes might limit us, God is able to do above and beyond what we think or imagine.

Faith sees past circumstances because hope ensures God is able to come through in the unseen. Circumstances tell us life is often inconvenient, uncomfortable and exhausting as Christian competitors, coaches or coaches’ spouses, but when our faith is placed in Christ, we comprehend this truth with our heads and our hearts: I cannot do it on my own, but God is enables me.

God is qualified to see us through the hard chapters in our stories, which include the training, the tryout, the difficult conversation, the pain, the injury, the setback, the loss, the failed relationship and/or the doubt.

When we come to the end of ourselves, our faith shifts our eyes from self to Savior. This is when we understand God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. When we turn to Him, His power fills us, and we become able to face the hard moments of our stories with Him.

“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.” (Hebrews 7:25)

We all have hard moments. We cannot escape our circumstances, but we know Jesus experienced pain, suffering and hard times as well, and He is with us every moment, interceding on our behalf because He knows God is at work.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

In Him, we have the endurance to run the race of life all the way through the finish line. The power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us and since God is able to give us what we need, we are able to endure and be victorious. Jesus initiates our faith, and through trials and tribulations, good times and hard times, He perfects our faith as we lean into Him knowing He is more than capable to bring us through. He endured hard times, and so will we when we keep our focus on Him.

Never underestimate the power of our God.

Feeling anxious? Hold on.
Feeling overwhelmed? Hold on.
Feeling doubt? Hold on.
Feeling fear? Hold on.
Feeling division? Hold on.
Feeling set-apart? Hold on.

In Hebrew, the word for hope is tikvah, which means great expectation and can also mean a cord. We hold onto our Living Hope like a cord God tosses us from Heaven because He alone is able to pull us through!

Hope gives us the endurance to make it through the times of exhaustion to the finish line when, “He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.” Philippians 3:21 

In Him is where joy is found, and when we come together as one to confidently compete and live, we see a glimpse of heaven here on earth. We can rest in knowing who wins in the end because God has already determined the outcome. 

NEW DEVO!

Click the image below to read our latest devotion on God is Able

This quarter, we’re exploring what it means to Pursue Mission. This month, our focus is on how to Commit to the Mission. Join us as we journey through this exploration.

One way to actively Pursue Mission is to get involved with FCA. Whether it’s volunteering as a Huddle leader or character coach, or committing to our team and coming on staff, we have a place for you to serve and disciple coaches and athletes. Get involved! 

Want to learn more about pursuing team and surrounding yourself with the right spiritual teammates? Head to FCA in Action and read our December Pursue articles:

Anchor Article: Get Moving: Commit to the Mission 

*If you read this article and aren’t in relationship with Christ yet but would like to know more, we invite you to go through FCA’s The FOUR that explains how an everlasting and fulfilling life with God is possible.

About the Author:

Mindy Lee Hopman is a Jewish believer, author, speaker, and curriculum specialist. She directs [THE] Huddle: For Women on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, and currently serves as an Area Representative in the South Coastal Area. As the wife of a headmaster, Mindy and her husband have raised two of their own athletes and have helped to raise countless other athletes in the private-boarding school environments where they have lived. Mindy has a passion for helping female athletes and coaches understand their identity in Jesus and how their faith stories fit into the greatest story of all time. In Mindy’s free time she loves to run on the beach at sunrise or paddleboard up the creek! 

Connect with Mindy at mhopman@fca.org and get involved with her ministry HERE.

-FCA-