Auburn 37, Georgia 17. That was the score with only 12 minutes left to play in the game… things were looking very bleak for The University of Georgia (UGA) football team. I went ahead and considered it a loss for UGA and was hoping that they would at least score enough points against Auburn to not make it look like a blowout.
Rewind a bit. I grew up a die-hard UGA Football fan. Going to school there for 4 years only added to that support. I have been unable to attend many games lately because of my job coupled with being an alumnus.
I was able to score a good priced ticket to the game this past weekend, though, and stayed with a good buddy of mine, Brian Berger. Everybody expected a close game.
Brian & I the day before the game. Auburn Locker Room/Bo Jackson’s Heisman
Fast forward. I’m sitting there, along with many other Georgia fans, in disbelief that we are receiving a major beatdown at the hand of the Auburn Tigers. I felt deflated and pessimistic. “Can’t believe I paid for this,” I thought.
Slowly but surely we somehow found ourselves a touchdown and field goal (7 points for all you non sports enthusiasts) away from taking the lead, with the ball late in the game!
That’s when it happened. God spoke to me. “At a football game?!” you say? Yep.
The Lord convicted me of my pessimism. It was like He was saying to me what He said to Peter back in the day… “Ye of little faith faith… why [do] you doubt?” I’m not saying God was setting Georgia on a course to win the game to teach me a lesson, mind you. Jesus doesn’t care who wins a silly game. Merely that God was using the situation and something I am passionate about to get my heart’s attention.
He then brought my mind to the World Race. God made me realize how much adversity and struggles I will face there out on the field. But that’s not the end! I must keep on fighting the good fight and never give up, just as the Bulldogs were doing. At that moment, my perspective changed. Win OR lose, my Father had spoken to me and put a smile upon my face. Point taken, God.
I sent a text to Brian about this epiphany right before Georgia drove down and scored to take the lead (he and I had been texting throughout the game… we didn’t sit together). Then God spoke to Him about holding his tongue in against some rude, obnoxious Auburn fans that had been hounding him all game (he told me this after the game).
Long story short, Georgia took the lead only to lose the game on a 4th down and 18, 75-yard miracle pass by the Auburn quarterback with only 25 seconds on the clock!!! 2 Georgia defenders even got in the way of the pass, and Auburn still came down with the tipped pass! It was absolutely insane.
Final Score: Auburn 43, Georgia 38
Of course I was disappointed, but I couldn’t dwell on it… God had shown up regardless.
Another friend of mine, Ryan Otto, recently told me that Jesus often speaks to him through movies! Pretty neat, huh?
The point is, you can experience The Lord anywhere! Whether it’s college football, movies, music, or business, He can speak to you using the things that interest and intrigue you. You just have to be willing to listen!
Check out Brian’s weekly sports blog for more of the story!… College Football and God?
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