The God of Hope

On Friday evening, I spoke to the University of Arkansas football team. What was my message to these players, staff, & coaches who have had a hard season?

The God of Hope

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

(Romans 15:13)

On Friday evening, I spoke to the University of Arkansas football team. Nick Floyd, who is the lead pastor at Cross Church in Arkansas and the team chaplain for the Razorbacks since 2014, invited me to share a devotion with the team before they played the University of Texas on Saturday.

I am a college football fan. It is by far my favorite sport. From ESPN College Gameday to intense rivalries like Auburn vs. Alabama, I love it. Many in the state of Texas are excited to see the rivalry renewed between Texas and Texas A&M. Many high-profile teams are currently looking for a new head coach: Auburn, Florida, LSU, Arkansas, Penn State, and Virginia Tech (who just recently hired James Franklin). The reason there are so many vacancies is because those coaches were unable to win enough games to keep their jobs. It is a tough business. You win and stay, or you lose, and they show you the door!

I am a fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks and have been pulling for them in this tough year. The season has not turned out how they had hoped, but they have come so close in many of their losses. They were in striking distance every game this year but one. They are currently 2-8, but they could easily be 9-1.

What was my message to the players, staff, and coaches? I felt the Lord strongly impress upon me that I was to speak on Romans 15:13. My audience for this message was a group of young men who have endured a very trying season. As I shared Romans 15:13, I focused on three key words and three key principles. The three key words were hope, power, and believe, and the three principles to live by are: listen to the voice of truth, look forward and not backward, and develop a rhythm of rest whereby your body and soul can be refreshed.

When times are challenging, how can you look forward as a football team, individual player, or coach? You need hope. Hope is the confident assurance that all will work out because God is for us, and as the God of hope, He will take care of us.

May the message of hope in Romans 15:13 encourage and bless you.

Partner with us in spreading the Gospel!

Will you help fuel our efforts to spread the Gospel
and equip and empower other Christians to do the same?

Count me in! ▶

Podcast of the Week

Exemplary Leadership, with Dr. Dondi Costin

Pastor Danny welcomes to the show Dr. Dondi Costin, president of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, to discuss his time in the military, his service as a military chaplain, what brought him to Liberty University, and his time there, sharing what he has learned all along the way, which includes a lot about leading and serving well. You don't want to miss hearing his journey and wisdom!

Listen on your preferred platform: