Renewed After Failure and Disappointment
In 1998, the Minnesota Vikings had a team destined for the Super Bowl behind quarterback Randall Cunningham, wide receivers Randy Moss and Chris Carter, as well as running back Robert Smith. The team also had one of the best kickers in the NFL who had not missed a kick all season.
Then came the most important play in the most important game - the NFC championship. The Vikings were up seven points. Anderson was called on to seal the game with a 39 yard field goal. He missed!
Most, if not all of us, have faced failure or disappointment in our lifetime. So, what do you do when you feel like you have disappointed others, yourself, or you feel as though others are disappointed in you?
What is your response? How does Jesus respond? Here is how Jesus responds to those who are beaten down by failure and disappointment:
Some religious folk dragged a woman caught in adultery to Jesus. What did Jesus do?
"Then he [Jesus] bent over again and wrote on the ground [noone knows what he wrote in the dirt, but there is speculation such as 'how many of you are committing adultry?]. “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone! Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust" (John 8:7-8)
"When they heard this, they all left, one by one, the older ones first. Jesus was left alone, with the woman still standing there. He straightened up and said to her, Where are they? Is there no one left to condemn you? No one, sir, she answered. Well, then, Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin again" (John 8:9-11).
When Jesus is on the scene, the accusers leave. Jesus takes our failures and disappointments and forgives them and sweeps them away as though they never existed.
As for Gary Anderson. Gary remains a devout christian. In his failure, he relied on his faith and teammates to carry him through that disappointment. Today, Gary remains active in his community. Gary owns and operates a fly fishing business in Canada.
"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus" (Roman's 8:1).