The Underdog
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
I learned a lot about sports from my father. He was my baseball coach when I was younger. It afforded me an opportunity to be tutored and trained in the game by the man who was my first role model and teacher in life.
My father was not just my coach in baseball; he was, and is, an avid sports fan. He enjoys watching all kinds of sports: football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and watches all levels: professional, college, high school, and little league. From these games, you can learn a lot about life and competition, and the keys to success, but you can also learn how to handle defeat.
One of the things that I observed about my father as a sports fan is the way in which he oftentimes had a preference for rooting for the underdog. Whenever there was a good game on television, at a local high school or little league, or at someone’s house, my dad would oftentimes root for the underdog. It wasn’t always the popular route to take, but it was one my dad often found himself on.
His view on watching sports and rooting for the underdog may not be yours, but when I reflected on his preference in light of Scripture, it dawned on me that my earthly father’s preference gives me some unique insight into the heart and the mind of my heavenly Father’s preference.
According to Scripture, God has a divine preference for those who have not had the advantages that others have had. Unlike bookies in Vegas, God is not looking for those with the best roster, the biggest payroll, and all the power to determine who He supports. No…God tends to show special attention towards those who need some help, towards those who need a little extra encouragement, and those who have been intentionally kept out, locked out, and shut out.
So if you feel like you’re an underdog in life right now, if it seems like everyone and everything is against you, don’t lose hope. Don’t get discouraged. Your heavenly Father is with you. He is for you. And He wants to help you overcome the odds that are against you.
I learned a lot about sports from my father. He was my baseball coach when I was younger. It afforded me an opportunity to be tutored and trained in the game by the man who was my first role model and teacher in life.
My father was not just my coach in baseball; he was, and is, an avid sports fan. He enjoys watching all kinds of sports: football, basketball, baseball, tennis, and watches all levels: professional, college, high school, and little league. From these games, you can learn a lot about life and competition, and the keys to success, but you can also learn how to handle defeat.
One of the things that I observed about my father as a sports fan is the way in which he oftentimes had a preference for rooting for the underdog. Whenever there was a good game on television, at a local high school or little league, or at someone’s house, my dad would oftentimes root for the underdog. It wasn’t always the popular route to take, but it was one my dad often found himself on.
His view on watching sports and rooting for the underdog may not be yours, but when I reflected on his preference in light of Scripture, it dawned on me that my earthly father’s preference gives me some unique insight into the heart and the mind of my heavenly Father’s preference.
According to Scripture, God has a divine preference for those who have not had the advantages that others have had. Unlike bookies in Vegas, God is not looking for those with the best roster, the biggest payroll, and all the power to determine who He supports. No…God tends to show special attention towards those who need some help, towards those who need a little extra encouragement, and those who have been intentionally kept out, locked out, and shut out.
So if you feel like you’re an underdog in life right now, if it seems like everyone and everything is against you, don’t lose hope. Don’t get discouraged. Your heavenly Father is with you. He is for you. And He wants to help you overcome the odds that are against you.
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