Underestimating Another (02/10/2025)

I’m not sure what you were doing yesterday, but most of the afternoon and evening I was participating in the Super Bowl festivities and game in my family room with my husband. I was excited for the game because of all the hype. Almost every sports commentator gave both teams a lot of credit for their talent and achievements but chose Kansas City Chiefs to win. I did, too. We were all wrong. We made the mistake of underestimating the Eagles.

The only thing that went right for the Chiefs before the halftime was calling the coin toss. The Eagles’ defense shut the Chiefs out the first half, denying them any points on the board. And the Eagles’ offense was on fire. While Barclay didn’t get his usual yardage, the team found other ways to score. At the half it was a lopsided game with Eagles ahead 24 to 0. Clearly, I’d underestimated the Eagles.

The Chiefs finally got on the score board and managed to pull some amazing scores. The final score of Eagles 40 over Chiefs 22 didn’t really paint a clear picture of the way the game played out. As the victory festivities began on the field in New Orleans, I had to admit I didn’t see that end coming. And I was impressed that both the Eagle’s coach and quarterback praised and thanked the LORD for their victory. Clearly, I’d underestimated the Eagles.

As I prepared for bed and took time for reflection and prayer, the game was very much on my mind. How could I have been so wrong. Well, the truth is I am no sports genius, so error was always in the cards. But as I sat there, in prayerful reflection, the LORD does what the LORD often does, He used that situation to open my mind and heart to other possibilities. As I sat there, it came to me that if I’d been so wrong about those Eagles, what else, who else had I been wrong about? Who else have I been underestimating? Whose potential have I failed to see and encourage? Whose dreams have I failed to nurture? Who may be floundering because of lack of support?

And my mind was filled with images of Jesus, a carpenter’s son, an itinerant prophet with straggly fishermen followers. So many in His world underestimated Him and what was possible. As He hung upon the cross on Calvary, so many jeered and judged. But we all know that Good Friday wasn’t the true ending. We all know that Easter came. Clearly, a multitude had underestimated Jesus.

And I found myself on my porch begging Christ to forgive me for those times in my own life when I underestimated Him, and there have been many. Time after time, He has surprised me with His saving and transforming love. Time after time, He has surprised me with His power and presence. I found myself praying for eyes to better see Him in my life and to see the potential of others so that I might nurture their dreams and companion them better along the way.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.