If you live anywhere in the south or know anything about college football, then the gentleman featured in the above photo needs no introduction. But for those of you who are not as fortunate, his name is Jalen Hurts and is a quarterback for the Alabama Crimson Tide college football team.
Last year during a rather intense game, Hurts was pulled out of the game and the second string man, Tua Tagovailoa, finished the gaming by bringing the Crimson Tide to victory. While both gentlemen are quite talented on the field, eventually Tua would be named the first-string quarterback for the following season. Many people wondered if Hurts would choose to remain loyal to the team or search for better offers. He surprised some by tweeting out a Bible verse along with his decision to remain at Alabama - John 13:7
The season continued and the Crimson Tide has remained undefeated, but that is not what has everybody talking. Tua was injured during the SEC Championship and Jalen Hurts came to the aide of his teammates helping them become champions once again. This unexpected turn of events had everyone reflecting on Hurt's tweet regarding trusting in the Lord's plan even when you may not understand it.
Fans all over the country are applauding Jalen Hurts for his dedication, integrity, and loyalty to his teammates. Certainly, the young man has shown all of these wonderful aspects of good character; however, the moral of the story is not about football at all. It is about how God is always faithful and never forsakes us even if we do not see a way out of our situation.
Like Jalen probably felt, sometimes circumstances arise that we could not foresee which leave us feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. I'll be the first to admit that I sometimes forget that it isn't up to solely me to figure a way out, that God is watching over me and waiting for me to ask Him to step in and help me through.
We can become so involved in getting from one task to another that we lose sight of who we are and who we belong to and when we look up we do not know where we are and where to go from here. The Bible says in Zechariah 2:8 that whomever touches you, touches the apple of God's eye. God is also referred to as our heavenly father, which in turn makes us his beloved children. Stop and take that in for a moment. Not only are you His son or daughter, but the apple of his eye.
Do you really believe that He would just let you suffer without a greater plan in store for you? That He would just sit by without a care as our hopes and dreams are being dashed? Absolutely not. All we have to do is ask Him for his help, His guidance, and he will surely give it.
It is a lot easier said than done when it comes to simply let go and trusting Him rather than obsessing over how to change the situations ourselves. But if we would find a verse to cling to in times of trouble and remember for following His lead, God will restore all that seems to have been taken from us...just like He did for Jalen.
Roll Tide Roll