So Many Injuries

I love watching football every weekend, and so far, the NFL season has brought us, as sports fans, many exciting matchups and countless dramatic finishes.

But enjoying our favorite teams playing also means witnessing numerous injuries. Scenes of players heading to the blue tent, walking to the locker room, or being wheeled out on a cart seem commonplace every week.

In some ways, we're so used to injuries that when we see another player get hurt, we say to ourselves, "Here we go again." We start to expect injuries and aren't surprised when a big hit sends a player to the sideline. 

We've seen top players suffer season-ending injuries and have held our breath as players remain down on the field. Injuries have escalated this season, and every team seems to have key players dealing with them consistently.

So what are players supposed to do when injuries are such a big part of their sport?

The following few things come to mind:

1. They know some injuries happen, but they still must prepare to avoid certain injuries by taking care of their bodies.

   
   

2. They have to equip themselves to handle injuries better when they occur, so they can respond with the right mindset and perspective.

   
   

3. They can’t pretend or think they’ll never be affected by injuries or that they are somehow above being injured.

   
   

4. They must be willing to endure the suffering of an injury and understand that they could get injured again even after recovering.

   
   

5. They must look for opportunities to comfort injured teammates and also willingly accept their encouragement.

Fans and players can easily become jaded, negative, worried, angry, bitter, or cynical about how common injuries are in football. Instead, we can show compassion, value perseverance, and focus on how great football is even amid injuries.

In our own lives, it can feel like everywhere we turn, we find "injuries," suffering, pain, and devastation. Almost everyone we talk to is facing some kind of hardship or challenge. In some ways, it seems more prevalent than ever, but the reality is that "injuries" have been, and will continue to be, part of this life. 

We are likely used to dealing with painful issues, and when we see ourselves or another person get hurt, we say to ourselves, "Here we go again." We start to expect "injuries" and aren't surprised when "big hits" happen to us or others.

The truth is, we live in a fallen world, and many of the issues we face stem from sin, evil, and brokenness. As followers of Jesus, suffering is also part of our time (and growth) on earth before we experience the fullness of His glory in paradise for eternity. 

We're told in 1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT): "Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world."

So what are we supposed to do with "injuries" being such a big part of our lives now?

Here are a few things that come to mind:

1. We can equip ourselves to avoid certain injuries (consequences for sins) by seeking the Lord and caring for our hearts, minds, and bodies.

   
   

2. We can prepare to handle injuries by continually building our faith, and when they do happen, we can respond with the right mindset and perspective.

   
   

3. We can’t pretend we’ll never be affected by injuries or that we’re somehow above them. We must understand that “injuries” will happen, without being cynical.

   
   

4. We must be willing to endure the suffering that comes with injuries, but understand that even after we get through one injury, we’ll likely get injured again. We need to celebrate each healing and realize how God strengthens our faith as we endure more.

   
   

5. We must look for opportunities to comfort others who are suffering and be willing to receive encouragement from them too.

We can easily become jaded, negative, worried, angry, bitter, or cynical about the suffering we face. Instead, we can show compassion, value perseverance through trials, and focus on how great God is even in the midst of suffering.

He gets us through and lets us experience victory now and into eternity. 

Psalm 34:19 (AMP) says, "Many hardships and perplexing circumstances confront the righteous, but the Lord rescues him from them all."

Jesus tells us in John 16:33 (AMP), "'I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world, you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world. [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.]'"

Today, let's not let the negativity of constant "injuries" drag us into despair, but let's keep finding hope and peace in the God who rescues, heals, overcomes, and comforts us. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ, we share abundantly in comfort too" (2 Corinthians 1:3-5; ESV).

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please teach me to have the proper perspective on suffering. I know it's a part of this life, and I ask that I suffer well as I trust You and find my hope and peace in You. I pray that, through experiencing Your comfort, I learn to comfort others. I'm so grateful that the suffering will end one day when I join You in Heaven. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.