Nobody Said it Would be Easy

Many of you know that I’m a huge ice hockey fan. During Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals one of the players on the LA Kings when asked about the team’s performance (losses) the previous two games was heard to say: “Nobody said it would be easy.” You see for the LA Kings it had been a hard-fought year just to make it to the playoffs. They had their fair share of change—they were on their third coach for what had looked like a hopeless season. Something was holding the team back and a change in leadership seemed like the only thing to do.

And now they were in the Stanley Cup Finals having easily taken out three opponents. They came on strong and a sweeping win seemed to be a sure thing. But after winning three games in a row, they lost the next two to the NJ Devils. Here they were, back home in LA and the pressure was one to win the Cup in Game 6 and send the Devils home. 

They knew it wouldn’t be easy. Once again, something had to change. That night it was a change in attitude. Almost every player interviewed before the game spoke of a confidence they had in each other. They had to leave the shame of losing two games behind them and hit the ice as if it were a new day, a new game, and time to win!

It seems to me that’s how life is. Circumstances beyond our control happen. Sometimes things appear headed in the right direction when one misstep suddenly changes everything we expected to happen. We beat ourselves up over our mistakes, the  “would have, could have, should have beens” and may find ourselves stuck in our failure and trapped by what we call “shame” for not succeeding.

If we can simply remember that we are imperfect humans and there is one perfect God who grants us grace and forgiveness (1 John 1-10), maybe, just maybe we can chart a new course. We may feel as if we have lost everything, and yet in those moments of despair and frustration, we are reminded by the Apostle Paul that in Christ we can find new strength. 

 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.  We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.  Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10

Our pride may keep us from asking for help. Our pride may keep us trapped in the failure. When we are willing to hand over our imperfections to a perfect Christ, we can trust that he will take our fears, our pain, our disgrace, our shame and transform them into hope and joy. When we are willing to share our struggles with others, we can find encouragement. There will come a time when we no longer need to be held down by our shame. The message in Isaiah 54 is that we need not fear or live in shames but can be redeemed (restored) and set free by God’s grace. Jesus in Matthew 11:28 calls us to come to him  “all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light”

When we are united first with Christ, then with one another, great change and restoration can occur. We must set our lives in the direction that God is leading us and in doing so will be given the strength to make the changes we need to succeed with his plan. 

So what happened with the LA Kings? They came out with a renewed strength and confidence in their abilities in Game 6. They quickly took control of the ice and after 60 minutes of play we able to hoist the Stanley Cup as the 2012 champions. How did they do it? That renewed confidence they all spoke of for starters. One player said it was about taking small steps, winning one shift at a time. One said they had learned from their past experience and knew what needed to be changed. They faced the past and did what they needed to chart a new course. 

Just as in life, if we can pause and ask God to show us our character defects, he will help us to change the direction we are heading. Sometimes we too need a change in leadership. For me that leader is the Jesus. And by having a willingness to change, to accept new direction, we too can have renewed confidence and the strength and courage to take the next step forward—one at a time.