Everyone Loves a Comeback
A swarming crowd resembling a zombie apocalypse spilled over the green in their rush to obtain the best view of Tiger Woods as he won the PGA Tour Championship by two strokes this past Sunday. A choked-up, teary-eyed, and more humble Tiger credited his fans for helping him find his way back.Jim Kelly former quarterback of the Buffalo Bills is another comeback kid. He 
didn’t win the 1st Super Bowl he played in, but instead had to “come back for that,” and it wasn’t the only time. The man has come back from a troubled marriage, the death of a son, and now he’s fighting to make his second comeback from cancer. When he speaks, he’s not looking for sympathy despite all the hardships he’s been through. He speaks from a place of strength and publically gives all the credit to Jesus.He said, “Things are going to happen in your life. It’s how you react, how you lead, and how you come back that makes you.”At the American Christian Fiction Writer’s conference, I attended this past weekend, Liz Curtis Higgs author of Bad Girls of the Bible, said something that resonated with me, “Every Christian story comes down to the same thing – Redemption.”I used to think every comeback had to end with a big success, but that’s not necessarily true. The two critical elements of a comeback are a struggle followed by redemption. Redemption being the key. Dictionary.com defines redemption as atoning for a fault or mistake, deliverance, rescue, or salvation. People don’t love the story of Rudy because he brought the team to victory. Rudy suited up for one 
game and only played twenty-seven seconds. It was how the crowd chanted his name, how they rooted for him, and believed in him that made the story. He never gave up hope, and his fans redeemed him. In It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey doesn’t come back by striking it rich in the banking industry. Instead, he realized all the people who loved, cared, and sacrificed for him. He was changed because of their love. And then there is the parable of The Prodigal Son. He certainly didn’t have a big success. The son merely came to his senses, and his father welcomed him home with open arms.I’m not saying success is wrong or bad. I wish everyone great success. It’s just not the key. You may be close to God, or you may be far away and deep in the struggle. Redemption is what offers hope. It’s knowing that we are not stagnant creatures. We are changing and growing into God’s likeness daily. It’s the hope of shedding our old ways that have kept us trapped and in chains. It's what gets us back up on our feet after we've fallen seven times (Proverbs 24:16). It’s knowing there is a host of angels looking on from heaven rooting for us and cheering our name. It’s what keeps us pushing through struggles, knowing that God is waiting with open arms to celebrate. He has his best robe and a ring waiting for your finger.Because what was lost is now found.Praise God.“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” - Isaiah 44:22Don’t miss a post! Sign up for my weekly blog by clicking here: Lorri’s blog.