"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

The football team of a small Christian high school was struggling to recruit enough players to field a team.  One year the team had only 11 players.  Each player had to play both offense and defense.  They lost repeatedly.  Games often ended when the team fell so far behind that the "mercy rule" took effect.  Though crushed, they never gave up.  As they came to the final game of the season, no one expected to win.  But this game was different.  The team landed a victory.  They were ecstatic!

Sometimes in life we feel like this football team did.  We struggle to succeed.  We are tired and have little to show for our efforts.  We are sore and injured.  As hard as we try, we just can't get it right.  We wonder if life is just defeat after defeat.  Will there ever be a victory?  Worst of all our failures is our struggle against sin; even our best efforts often produce heartache and sorrow.

God, however, understands our frustrations and defeats.  He took them upon Himself and made them His own.  He was bruised for our sin.  He was crushed to heal us.  He paid the penalty for sin to forgive us.  He died and rose again to spare us from humiliating defeat and gives us the victory He has won for us - forgiveness of sin and life in heaven through the faith God has given.

 From "Portals of Prayer" (c) 2004 by Concordia Publishing House.  Reproduced by permission under license number 07:09-18B.  For ordering information contact Concordia at www.cph.org .