Christian Living

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The Arms Of God
© 2007

by

Stephen A. Peterson


There are 4 minutes 15 seconds to go before half time in the most important basketball games of the season for the Seminole Chieftans. The score was Seminole: 23 Wewoka 18. Pau Anson was point guard and responsible for getting the ball into the front court to begin his team’s plays.

Paul crossed the division line successfully. Then he dribbled the ball to the left side of the court only to be picked up by two defenders. He was caught in a double team. Unable to find a teammate, he wildly threw the ball to his right towards him but it was too high and went out of bounds. Wewoka took the ball out of bounds, bring it quickly up to the front court, then they scored on a three point shot. The score became: Seminole 23 Wewoka 21.

After their score with 3 minutes 1 second to go before half time, Wewoka stole the ball from Paul. His defender just took the ball from him as he tried to change the ball from his left hand to his right hand. As the player made and succeeded in making a three point shot, Paul fouled him. The player made his free throw. The score became Wewoka 25 Seminole 23. 2 minutes 34 second were left before half time. The coach decided to take Paul of the game. As he head for the farthest corner of the bench, he flings a towel on the floor. The team is charged with a technical foul. Wewoka made the two foul shots and scores another three point shot. The score is Wewoka 30 Seminole 23 with 1 minute 18 seconds to go before half time. Although Paul was at the other end of the bench, he is not far enough away from the coach. Paul sees him coming but he cannot hide.

“Anson!” The coach sat down next to him, puts his arm around his shoulders. “The game is not over. We can still win this game. You just have to play your game. Success is never final. Failure is never fatal unless you decide not to recover. It’s courage that counts, Anson! You’re going to sit out the rest of this half and when the third period begins you’ll be put in the game. Hold your head up high. At least I hope you do. You’re a good player. Now calm down!”

Eighteen years following the basketball game, Paul had not forgotten what his basketball coach had said to him that winter evening. Whenever he made a mistake in life, he repeated his coach’s saying. He found it to be a foundation of his life that gave him strength, courage and hope for the now and for the uncertainties of the future.

Like Paul’s coach, all those who have to know and accept what Jesus Christ had said about the Heavenly Father can be confident that no matter what mistakes in life that a person make that He will forgive and support those who humbly come seeking his compassion and mercy.

How a person reacts to failure and adversity as well as success and prosperity indicates her or his character. So many have rejected the arms of God because they sincerely believe their success and prosperity came from their efforts only to find themselves angry, lost and depressed when failure and adversity comes as it will and has come for every living person. You will or cannot escape it. It will come to you sooner or later. Those who seek alcohol, recreational sex, illicit or licit drugs as means to solve your problems can rest assured your life will be one of life long depression or serious mental and physical pathology until God becomes a part of your life.

It is seeking the arms of God and the courage to do so is all that counts.

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