Faith

Day 11

For Us

If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31)

How many times have we prayed for a certain outcome, imagined that a problem has only one solution, and lost heart when that outcome or solution didn’t occur? How many times have we seen that happen in our lives at home, at work, in sports, or with financial investments? And then we learn, of course, that God has something much better in store. That’s what the apostle Paul proclaims in today’s verse. For me, 2001 was a monster of a difficult year in Tampa Bay. First, as a team, we had all gone through the uncertainty of 9/11 and the aftermath together with the rest of the country. But we rallied from a slow start to make the playoffs again, only to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles in Philly––Again. Off the field, the media was having a field day speculating whether I would be fired and if Bill Parcells would be the guy to replace me. My staff and I just kept coaching, believing that the Lord requires us to do our jobs and He will take care of the rest. And then, despite much prayer, we were fired. That was not the answer or outcome we were looking for, but it was the answer we got. And so, in the midst of much disappointment and uncertainty, for the future, we packed up, not knowing what doors the Lord would open tomorrow, but still believing He would provide. And He did. The Indianapolis Colts called with a mission statement they wanted me to fulfill. If God is for us. How could I have forgotten that promise? Then who can ever be against us? Once again I was reminded that in every outcome––whether it was the one I had been praying and hoping for or not––God has a good plan in place, something whereby He would be glorified. And the amazing thing about that plan? It was just one of many in my life.

UNCOMMON KEY > Unsure of what God’s plan for you right now is? Remember: “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?”

What is God saying to you right now? Jot down those thoughts and pray them back to Him.

This devotion was taken from: The One Year–UNCOMMON LIFE–Daily Challenge; May 27; by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker