FollowBy Brian Waple
I was reminded recently of a TV show from the mid-2000s called Friday Night Lights. The show chronicles the stories of several high school students in the small, football-crazy town of Dillon, Texas. One of the touchstone phrases heard throughout the show, as spoken by the head football coach, is “clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.” That mantra touches on the passion the boys feel for football and is a clarion call for them to stretch to levels beyond themselves. When he says it among a throng of enthusiastic players, it’s meant to inspire them before the upcoming game.
Honestly, I must admit it’s hard to feel inspired during this current age of Coronavirus. And I think in light of everything going on, it’s easy for us to forget that God is still on His throne. I do believe that God is using this time to transform His people, but that message can get lost in the fog as I watch the steady deterioration of normalcy as we know it. It’s hard to have eyes that clearly focus on Him as I see on the periphery what this crisis is doing to our economy and the change it is bringing to our day-to-day lives. And it’s hard to have a heart filled with passion for Him as I sense the desperation, helplessness, and isolation that is running rampant. It can seem that in this challenge, we’re on the losing side.
But throughout Scripture, I find assurance that God cares for His people, especially when we have to go through these intense seasons of struggle and everything seems so out of control. For example, the psalmist tells us, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4, NLT) Or rather than focusing on the fear and anxiety of their own struggles, Paul tells the Philippians, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7, NLT). These words help me see that God is still in control of all of this.
As we continue to journey further into this new normal that we find ourselves, I pray that we will all take time to rest in God’s peace, assurance, and comfort through prayer. God is calling us to keep our eyes clearby focusing on him and our hearts full with His truth. In doing so, we won’t lose, for God is still, and will always be, on His throne and in control over all. And I ask that we continue to connect safely with each other, especially those who are particularly vulnerable during this time.
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