Why Not Us?

Denver is the closest football franchise to Wyoming, and the majority of my friends and family are rooting for the Broncos in the Super Bowl. But I’m cheering for the Seahawks because of Russell Wilson.

Early in the season, I happened to see an interview with Wilson. Even though the Seahawks had been winning, the reporter basically asked Wilson why he had the audacity to believe that he could overcome his lack of stature and inexperience to lead his team to the Super Bowl.

Russell Wilson’s answer was: “WHY NOT ME?” He said that he had a relationship with Jesus Christ, he had God-given talent, and he worked as hard as he possibly could, always trying to learn from his mistakes and improve his game.

He reminds me of David. When David saw Goliath, the Philistine giant who was taunting and terrifying the Israelite army, he wasn’t intimidated. David knew that the Lord was with him, so it didn’t matter that he was just a scrawny teenager.  David wasn’t even strong enough to wear the armor that the king put on him. But he was confident because he knew that the Lord loved Israel and the Lord loved him.

I want to be more like David and Russell Wilson. Most of my life has been spent on the bench, so to speak. I watch others do what I want to do but don’t.  I fear that I’m not good enough, that I might fail or make a fool of myself.

The problem is that I tend to look at my own shortcomings and not at Jesus—at His goodness, strength, and wisdom. But when I realize how much He loves me, that He’s on my side, then I can have confidence. Even if I fail, He’s gracious and merciful and “mighty to save” (Zephaniah 3:17).

So when the Lord calls your name, get off the bench!

Why not you? If you’re in Christ, you have loving teammates who have your back. You have the best playbook ever written, the Bible. You have the coach of coaches, the Holy Spirit. Right over there in the grandstand is your Father God. Whether you score the winning touchdown or you fumble the ball on third down, whether you’re the hero or the goat, He’s still cheering for you. Best of all, you have the only unbeatable quarterback, Jesus Christ, right beside you!

Coincidentally, our God just happens to be the owner and general manager of the universe and the head ref. We can’t lose!

Proudly sporting my Russell Wilson number

“If God be for us, who can be against us?” –ROMANS 8:31