*Today's devotional is written by Luke Heaton, UNPACKIN' it's Social Media Director and Podcast Co-Host.
Tony Finau has won the PGA Tour Northern Trust Golf Tournament, ending a grueling drought of 1,975 days since his first win at the Puerto Rico Open in 2016.
He battled down the stretch to prevail against premier names like Jon Rahm, and ultimately beat Cam Smith in a playoff.
Finau has had to deal with strong criticism from the golfing world due to repeatedly coming up short in tournaments. Over the past five years, Finau had 40 top-ten finishes, which is tied for the fourth among any player.
Second, among active players in runner-up finishes with eight, Finau has been one of the most talented and consistent golfers in professional golf in recent years. But even so, his lack of wins has overshadowed this success.
After his remarkable win at the Northern Trust, Finau made this candid comment: "It's hard losing and it's hard losing in front of the world. I believe in myself. I believe in my team. I haven't had the wins to maybe have that type of confidence and belief, but you just have to.”
Finau’s mentality is rather impressive. While coming up short in tournaments and facing criticism, his belief in himself never wavered. He maintained belief in his ability to play golf despite the discouraging and difficult emotions and criticism surrounding him.
If Finau can maintain confidence in himself in such circumstances, how much more can we have confidence in God when we fall short and circumstances around us become burdensome?
1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Praise God that this is true no matter what difficult things occur in life. If we repent and trust in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God is faithful to save us from the punishment our sins deserve.
God's faithfulness is also affirmed in Romans 8:38-39 when Paul writes, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Paul tells us there's nothing that can come in between God and His love for His redeemed people. This means that no matter what life throws our way, we can rest and rejoice knowing God is faithful to do what He has promised.
So as we live our lives, let's embrace the peace that comes from knowing there's nothing we can do and nothing that can happen to us that will change God's faithfulness to His promises.
I'm Luke Heaton and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: God, I praise You for Your faithfulness to Your promises. Thank you that You are faithful to redeem everyone who repents and trusts in the life, death, and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. Help me to embrace the peace that comes with understanding Your faithfulness in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
Has there been a time in your life where it's been difficult to trust in God's faithfulness?
Outside of salvation, where have you noticed God's faithfulness in your life?
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