The Dilemma of Disappointment: January 30th Devotional

The Dilemma of Disappointment

Philippians 4:6

January 30th Devotional

      On this day in 1994 Super Bowl XXVIII was played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Georgia.  It pitted two number-one seeds against each other, the Dallas Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills.  This would be the Bill’s fourth consecutive trip to the Super Bowl and one focusing on redemption.  During the previous three years, the Bills lost to the Giants, the Reskins, and the Cowboys, but this was supposed to be different.  The Bills entered the playoff as a hot team.  They won seven of their last eight games.  Their first opponent was the Los Angeles Raiders, who they lost to during the regular season.  After dismantling them they had a showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs.  The Chiefs were led by Joe Montana and Marcus Allen.  The Bills lost to the chiefs during the regular season.  The game was supposed to showcase two powerful offensive teams but Buffalo soundly defeated the Chiefs.  The Bills entered the game knowing the taste of defeat but they were ready to finally capture the Lombardi Trophy.  They were led by Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed, Don Beebe, and Bruce Smith.  The Cowboys were the better team on paper but few people actually expected the seemingly impossible to happen, the Bills losing four straight trips to the Super Bowl.  The Bills were leading with a dominant performance prior to halftime, the score being 13-6 at the time.  Dallas’ explosive offense had yet to find the end zone and the Bills were dominating the game.  But games aren’t won in the first half.  The Cowboys came screaming out with an offensive and defensive flurry in the second half.  Dallas would score 24 unanswered points and go on to win the game by the score of 30-13.  Emmitt Smith was voted the Super Bowl MVP, scoring two touchdowns and having over 150 total yards in the game.   

      I couldn’t imagine being the Buffalo Bills and feeling the sting of disappointment and defeat.  It was especially felt by their quarterback Jim Kelly.  Jim though hasn’t been unfamiliar with hardships.  Jim has battled mouth cancer for years.  He has had his upper jaw removed, all but three of his teeth have been removed (and those three have endured six root canals), and has been regularly in unending pain.  Tragically his son Hunter died from an incurable disease at the age of 8.  If it’s raining somewhere it’s raining on Jim Kelly.  A three-legged dog seems to have more luck than Jim.  But when asked how he felt about all of life’s disappointments Jim responded that he was blessed.  Jim Kelly is a faithful believer and finds unwavering confidence in his faith.  His verse to combat disappointment is Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”  Life can be disappointing at times; for that matter, it can be downright depressing.  But God is faithful and provides us with the avenue to pray to pour our lives out at His feet, even the things that cause us disappointment and discouragement.  We can take anything that we are dealing with to God in prayer.  We can trade our disappointment and pain for God’s peace.  If you find yourself feeling disappointed turn to Jesus in prayer.  Allow that disappointment to make a prayer appointment with the Lord.