My Least Favorite Day

My Least Favorite Day

The LORD said, “Name him Lo-ammi—‘Not my people’—for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God.” Hosea 1:9

My least favorite part of coaching in the NFL was the day we had to cut the roster. As I’ve said before, you’d almost be willing to work on game day for free, but they couldn’t pay you enough to make cut day tolerable. Those cut players had become family in a way. Watching dreams dashed was tough, especially when you—as the head coach—were doing the dashing. You’d tell yourself it wasn’t the end of the line, but for so many guys, it actually was. Players who had been stars in high school and then college didn’t even reach training camp unless they were in the top one percent of everyone playing football in the United States.

And often, even that wasn’t enough. They simply couldn’t be Colts any longer. Our roster size was limited, and they didn’t measure up.

In Hosea, the Lord was in the same situation. He’d finally had enough of the people breaking the covenant He had made with them. In essence, He told Hosea, “I’m cutting them.”

“They are not My people.” They are not measuring up.

Of course, God is not talking about a continuing relationship with the Indianapolis Colts. He is talking about falling out of a relationship with Him, a break in the family ties. Pretty serious stuff to stop and think about.

But the great thing about our God is that if we read the Bible on a regular basis, we will see all the times God continued to open the door of redemption, to restore that relationship with Him.

When we fail to follow the light He shines on the path He wants us to walk on and go our own ways, God—like a good parent would do—keeps opening the door and inviting us to return to a daily relationship with Him.

Not too different from the player who was initially cut but returns as a member of the practice squad. Or the one who comes back as a member of the active roster, alongside the players that he thought would never be his teammates.

Our God is faithful . . . even when we don’t measure up.

Uncommon Key > Face the truth that you don’t measure up to God’s perfect standard; no one does. But don’t be discouraged. He hasn’t cut you from the team. The two of you just have some work to do.