Running back Rashaan Salaam won the Heisman Trophy in 1994, as the best player in college football. But in his rookie season with the Chicago Bears, Salaam fumbled the ball nine times. To prevent future fumbles, the coaches fixed a tether to the football during practice. When he ran with the ball, someone ran behind him pulling on the tether, forcing Salaam to grasp the ball more tightly. As his grip grew stronger, his fumbles grew fewer, as he only fumbled four more times for the rest of his career.
The enemy’s strategy is not to make us quit the race. His goal is not that we abandon our program of recovery. His objective is that we simply fumble the ball from time to time. Eventually, enough fumbles add up to a major relapse.
So what’s the answer? Peter was clear: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
If you want to win the game, don’t focus on the fourth quarter. Or even the next touchdown. For now, just hold onto the ball and keep running.
Recovery Step: Be sober and vigilant. The ball is in your hands. Don’t fumble.
