Valleys of Defeat to Summits of Victory

When you look beneath the surface of Coach Wooden’s winning resume, you can see he was not always a winner. He has known tremendous defeat.

– Clint Decker

College basketball fans live for March Madness. It is about this time a particular name is remembered each year – Coach John Wooden, the legendary coach of the UCLA Bruins. (Image by optimism.ucla.edu)

He is remembered for the coaching success at UCLA, that most sports historians say will never be matched or likely even rivaled. It is an untouchable set of records. The ones most well known are the ten NCAA national championships in 12 years, 88 consecutive wins over four seasons and 19 conference championships.

Many fans of Coach Wooden might say he has been a winner throughout his entire life. As a player, he won championships in high school and college. As a coach, he had an 81% winning percentage covering 40 years of coaching along with the UCLA championships.

However, when you look beneath the surface of Coach Wooden’s resume, you can see he was not always a winner. He has known tremendous defeat. During the state title game of 1927 for Martinsville (Indiana) High School, he missed a key shot and lost the championship. Wooden says, “Losing that game was the most disappointing thing that happened to me as a player.” He started coaching a few years later in 1932 at Dayton (Kentucky) High School. His first season was six wins and 11 losses. It took him 28 years of coaching through the high school and college ranks before he won his first title. Then at UCLA in 1964, he captured his first of many NCAA national championships.

Like Coach Wooden, before we stand on the summit of victory, we often walk through the dark and lonely valleys of defeat. We see this as a pattern in the lives of historically significant people, including the giants of faith in the Bible.

It is written about Noah that he was “…a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9)

Noah was called by God to build a boat (called an ark) that would be large enough to fit multitudes of animals, along with his family. Then afterwards torrential rains would fall upon the earth and flood it as a form of judgment because of the wickedness of humanity.

Some scholars say it took Noah upwards of 75 years to build the ark, which was constructed during a

a lawless time. The Bible says, “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Gen. 6:5) This meant it was a very long 75 years. For the world at this point had never seen rain, nor a boat, so when Noah explained what he was doing it was likely he faced questions, doubts and ridiculed by his godless enemies. Yet, Noah persisted through it all, “By faith, Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark…and became an heir of righteousness.” (Hebrews 11:7)

When God closed the door after Noah boarded the ark and the rains started – it was victory. Then 40 days later when the rain stopped, the floods receded and Noah walked out of the ark to become the father of a new humanity and a new earth – it was victory.

The journey of Noah was not easy. God had him walk through some dark valleys before he could climb to the summit of victory. Why does God operate this way?

One word. Faith. God wants us to depend solely upon Him. Consequently, He takes us through circumstances where we are forced into a choice: God-dependency or self-dependency.

We thank God for the cross of Jesus. He modeled for us God-dependency on His journey to be crucified. And when He rose again from the dead, He provided a way for us to do the same. When we turn from ourselves, while walking through the dark valleys, and trust in Christ alone – we are lifted up to the summit of victory by the grace of God.

A prayer for you – Lord God, you know the dark valleys we are walking through. Help us to stop trusting in ourselves and turn from self-dependency and toward God-dependency. We cannot, but only you can. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God and America’s Obesity Crisis

In the 1970s 13% of Americans were considered obese. Today nearly 70% are either overweight or obese. We have a problem!

                                            - Clint Decker

Based on government data in the 1960s and 70s around 13% of Americans were considered obese while less than 1% were defined as morbidly obese. However, in the 1980s and 90s waistlines began to dramatically increase. Today, according to USAFacts, obesity rates have tripled in America over the last 60 years with nearly 70% being either overweight or obese. (Image by myhealthcare.co)

This has given rise to over 250 health problems like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes, fatty liver diseases, some cancers, fertility issues, mental health problems and more. In 2016 over $260 billion was spent on obesity related healthcare, while in 2024 it increased to $385 billion.

We have a health crisis in America!

Where is the church and Christian ministries on this? Are we not pro-life? This crisis is leading to obesity-related deaths by the thousands and chronic related sicknesses by the millions. Our families, churches and communities are all touched by this.

Does God have anything to say about our health?

Jesus said, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31) This refers to loving and serving God with your whole being, which includes your body. For believers, taking care of our body is an expression of our love for God. For when we do, we can more effectively serve others, whereas obesity limits us in different ways. Additionally, it is written “…whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) This is communicating that in all things, including what we eat and drink, we are to do for the glory (or honor) of God.

The goal of living a healthier life is first about God, second about others and last about you. It is not primarily about YOU looking good in the mirror or YOU feeling good about yourself. The Bible says, “Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of the nobility, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!” (Ecclesiastes 10:17) What is the purpose of eating and drinking? It is not for personal pleasure or self-indulgence, for that is where many of our problems start. Rather, it is to produce the strength and energy we need to serve God and others.

What are some practical ways we can fight against obesity?

1. Live with belief. Believe it is possible for you to eat and live a healthier life. No matter what your past failures have been. No matter what your existing health problems are. No matter what your genetics are. Believe that you can overcome.

2. Live with a plan. Turn your belief into action. Seek out a practical diet and exercise plan.

3. Live with a goal. Whatever you aim at is what you will hit. Set small reasonable weight loss goals.

4. Live with common sense. Make better choices. Eating smaller portions and fruits and vegetables is good. Eating larger portions and piles of cupcakes is bad.

5. Live for the glory of God. Do not live with guilt over your weight, nor compare your body to anyone else’s. Fix your eyes on Jesus and live for His praise alone.

6. Live with a persevering mindset. Know this will be extremely difficult but determine that you will never quit! Never!

Jesus came to die and rise again that we might no longer be enslaved by the things of this world. He created you and He knows the battles you face. In Christ, you have all you need to live a healthy life.

A prayer for you – Lord God, we ask for your help to begin living a healthier life. We need your enabling power. We are weak, but you are strong. Help us O God and grant us success. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

The Lord God vs. a Higher Power

Place your Higher Power up against the Lord God and see who wins

– Clint Decker

“Tom, do you believe in God?” I asked. “Yes and no,” he responded. “I believe there is a God, but I choose to believe in my Higher Power.” Most Americans still believe in God, but the numbers have been on a steady decline for decades. A Gallup poll reported in 1944, that 96% of Americans believed in God, but 78 years later in 2022 it dropped to a record low of 81%. Interestingly, when pollsters in another survey added a question about belief in a Higher Power, the numbers jumped to 88%. (Image by Clinton o. from Pixabay)

Billy Wilson, founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, included God in the 12 steps he wrote in 1938. Step 5, he penned “Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.” Before publication others advised him to describe “God” as a “Higher Power” that it might be more inclusive of those who are atheists, agnostics and nonreligious, so step 2 was written as “Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.”

Alcoholics Anonymous Cleveland writes about this problem with God, “The word God means something different to just about everyone that is having difficulty with it.” The consensus of a Higher Power being something greater than yourself, covers a lot of area. It can be the god of your choosing like Allah, Buddhism, Hinduism or the God of the Bible. It can also be any type of force, universal energy, some inherent goodness, nature or a variety of other spiritual higher powers.

Many find comfort believing in a Higher Power because it gives them an alternative to how they were raised, brings flexibility to their beliefs and allows them to live how they choose. It is also not as offensive. Yet, in many cases their spiritual power has no clear description of who it is, nor what it does or does not do.

God bluntly speaks to this kind of belief, “They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.” (Psalm 115:4-8)

What is God’s alternative then? He says in verse 9, “…trust in the Lord!” He explains this more, “There is…one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6)

These are not my words, but God’s, who is the Supreme Being of the universe. He holds it all together. He is the Higher Power, for there is no one higher nor more powerful than Him. Yes, for many it is offensive because God’s words are exclusionary. That makes many want to resist, push back and argue against it. However, is it true? Test it. Place your Higher Power up against the Lord God and see what you come away with.

No matter if you are struggling with an ongoing addiction, the aftermath of a tragedy or overwhelmed by a crisis – God is your only true hope. He alone has what you need to overcome and persevere. The Bible says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord…He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

How can we know this truth for sure? Because He sent His unique Son from heaven to earth to reveal Himself to all the world. Jesus is described as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) Jesus is what you and many others are searching for. Let Him be your Higher Power.

A prayer for you – Lord God, I pray people would recognize you as the One True God. Help them with their questions and doubts. Reveal to them who you are. Show them your only Son. Bring them to believe in you with all their heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.