The Game of Life

The Game of Life

My husband is a sore loser. Wait. That’s not fair. Let me rephrase that. In college, my husband was a sore loser, at least in Monopoly. One rainy Saturday afternoon, we played Monopoly in the game room of his dorm. As the game progressed, it was apparent I would reign victorious. One roll of the dice landed my not-yet husband on one of my properties with very steep rent. Instead of bowing out gracefully, my normally even-tempered man flipped the Monopoly board sending pieces flying. My man on the horse and his racecar danced amidst the colorful bills as they fluttered to the floor. “Whoops,” he offered, “I guess we won’t know who won.”

Have you ever flipped a Monopoly board? One of my good friends tried flipping her board this week. Except it wasn’t the game of Monopoly, it was the game of Life. She didn’t think she could finish the game and tried to quit before it was over. It breaks my heart to think of the pain one must suffer to choose to quit instead.

Many out there know the kind of pain my friend has endured. You’ve been there. Perhaps you’ve thought about flipping your game board. I don’t know a be-all end-all formula to ensure always winning the game. Sometimes, I’m just hanging on through the next round. I do know a be-all end-all God who will make sure we have what it takes to carry us through.

Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. 
I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:3-4 NIV

As a little girl, I sometimes played Monopoly with my brother and cousins. Being the baby, I didn’t always understand the rules. Usually I was the first one out of the game. I’d go bankrupt. But sometimes, my older cousin would have compassion and work a deal to offer me some of his money. Just when I thought the game was over, I was back in again. He rescued me.

God will rescue us when we think the game over. When losing is all we see, He will carry and sustain us. Does it look like you’re going bankrupt? Don't think you'll make it around the board again? God will save you!

O God, thank you for carrying me. Please rescue my friend. Gather the pieces of her soul into your hands and breathe new life into her. Lord, uphold and sustain all those hurting souls who read these words. You know every eye that will read and every heart that has broken. Begin the healing process. Give us strength to continue playing Lord when it appears that we won’t make it through the next round. Thank you, God for loving me. Amen.

Come visit me at sheep to the right!