"Lord, I don't ask that I should win, but please, please don't let me finish behind Akabusi."
Comfort
I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass?Isaiah 51:12The Bible refers to God as “the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Isaiah puts the issue quite starkly: we either fear men or we rely on God’s comfort. The Bayeux Tapestry tells the story of the invasion of England by William the Conqueror. In one panel, a bishop is seen laying about a group of reluctant soldiers with the flat of his sword. The caption says: “Bishop Odo comforts the troops.” A strange kind of comfort!
However, the word “comfort” contains the syllable “fort” and that means “strong”, and comfort is all about giving strength to people when they are feeling weak and vulnerable.
The Corinthians passage we referred to states: “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” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Paul says that God is there to comfort us when we need it but it doesn’t stop there. We are to offer to others the comfort they need, which comes from God. Paul’s theology was always practical – you believe and experience in order to make you different.
There are many situations in sport which can lead to frustration and disappointment. Remember that in those situations God’s comfort is available to you. Remember too to offer God’s comfort to others when they need it.