Much of my 67 years of life experiences have been in the sports world, and in that time I’ve witnessed and been a part of some great comebacks.
As a coach for the Tennessee Titans in the 2000 NFL Playoffs, I was fortunate enough to be involved in one of the league’s most iconic comeback plays—the Music City Miracle. In a game we’d been winning throughout, the Buffalo Bills rallied to take a one point lead with 16 seconds left. We definitely needed a “miracle” comeback. We received a kickoff at about the 25-yard line and our players executed to perfection a play we had practiced every Saturday for the previous three years. Frank Wycheck tossed a lateral all the way across the field to Kevin Dyson, who ran the length of the field for a touchdown and a 22-16 miracle victory.
On the other end of the emotional spectrum, I’ve also been a part of comebacks that have fallen just short. The most famous of those came a few weeks after the Music City Miracle in Super Bowl XXXIV, when our comeback efforts against the high-powered St. Louis Rams came up one yard short in a most excruciating loss.
Through each of those experiences—both good and bad—I learned so much about God’s sovereignty and plan for my life.
Because of the scoreboard, comebacks are most commonly related to the sports world, but I know that infinitely more meaningful comebacks are lived out every day away from the TVs and crowds and stadiums. We have all experienced or know someone who has made a comeback in life. It might be a second chance with a career or marriage, or it might even be another chance at life after battling through a devastating illness or addiction.
Think about yourself. Are you looking for a comeback? The best place to go is to the Lord. Ask Him for guidance and direction. He is the One who brings us victory, but keep in mind that the victory only comes in His perfect timing.
Quite often, we first have to turn away from the wrong or sinful direction we’re headed. Isaiah 53:6 says, “We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way…” Thankfully, God knows where we have wandered, and He remains the steadfast and loving presence who will show us the way to repentance and a changed life. He is the Good Shepherd. When we are lost, He’ll leave His 99 sheep behind and rejoice upon finding us (Luke 15:3-7).
In my eyes, the greatest comebacks happen through repentance. When we find ourselves in a bad situation or moving in a direction that we know is not right, we want God to take us and turn us around. Deep down, we yearn for that 180-degree flip from where we’ve been, turning away from our past and instead moving in the direction God wants us to go—directly toward Him.
Jesus is always there for us, and, if we’ll simply accept Him into our lives as both our Lord and Savior, He’s waiting for us with His loving arms. We don’t have total control over anything in our lives, but God does, and He knows where you are and wants to meet you there.
If you are intentional and prayerful and look to Jesus for direction, then you can make a change. We all can make what appears to be a miracle comeback, but this only comes through the power of Christ.
Model the Master,
Les Steckel
FCA President/CEO
Originally Published: September 2013