The Tailwind, the Pickleball Court, and the Danger of Arrogance
I have been trying to be much more intentional about giving God my first half hour, 45 minutes, or whatever He demands of me each morning. I am His servant. I want to give Him that time in worship, praise, studying His Word, and improving my prayer life. My prayer list is long—so long that I've actually put everything into an AI tool to remind me to pray for specific things each day. Even then, sometimes my prayer time doesn't stretch as long as it should. (I also have friends who have asked me not to mention them by name in my writing, and I will always honor that).
Diving into the readings in Isaiah today—which in this section of the plan covers chapters 28 through 41—really got me thinking about wins, losses, and the posture of my own heart.
Lately, I've felt the Lord giving me a massive push. It feels like a literal tailwind, like I'm effortlessly rolling down a hill. Winning has become easy again. I've hit one of those streaks where it feels like everything I touch turns to gold—in business, in my personal life, everywhere.
I know it is not by my own power. I know it is what God is doing. But instead of resting in humility, I find myself too easily digging right back into my old arrogance.
Take the pickleball court this past Sunday. In my first game, my partner and I were up 8-0, and the other team came back and beat us. The next game, we were up 9-0, and they came back and beat us in overtime. By the final match, I was playing with my 75-year-old friend, Bob, against two guys who were absolutely crushing us. I turned to him and said, "Bob, I need a win today. Don't let me down."
Suddenly, we started coming back. We tied it up and ended up beating them in overtime. They immediately started arguing a close call, yelling that the ball wasn't on the line, even trying to check the replay machine. Since I usually give in to keep the peace, I said, "Okay, we'll replay the point."
They quickly went up on us and were about to win (you have to win by two). But we rallied, came back, and beat them again.
My reaction? I ran right up to the net and yelled at my friend Rob, "Get your head up!"—mocking what he had yelled at me earlier in the match. I was arrogant. I was rubbing it in. It was the exact opposite of Christ-like, and I had to go apologize to him later.
I love to win. But when I read about the children of Judah and Israel in Isaiah, I see a terrifying mirror. God would bless them, protect them, and give them overwhelming victories. And almost immediately, they would become so arrogant about the blessings that they completely forgot where the blessings came from. In Isaiah 39, King Hezekiah literally gets so puffed up by his success that he arrogantly shows off all his God-given treasures to the enemy Babylonians.
May I never forget where my tailwind comes from.
I went to the doctor today to get my blood work back. It is better than it was seven years ago, long before COVID. I am no longer pre-diabetic. Everything else has stabilized. And if I am being brutally honest, I haven't even been taking care of myself that well. This health, this prosperity, these wins—they are entirely from the Lord. It is far more than I deserve.
May I learn to worship God when He exalts me, and worship Him just as fiercely when He humbles and prunes me. I will follow Him for the rest of my days, until I get to see my son again in heaven.
Today's SOAP
S - Scripture
Isaiah 39:2 (NIV): "Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses... There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them."
Psalm 9:10 (NIV): "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you."
O - Observation
Isaiah 39 captures the exact moment King Hezekiah's pride overtakes his humility. God had just miraculously healed him and delivered his city, but instead of giving God the glory, Hezekiah arrogantly shows off his own wealth and success to the Babylonians. The blessing became a stumbling block because he forgot the Source. Conversely, Psalm 9 reminds us that true confidence isn't in our own strength or winning streaks, but in trusting the name of the Lord who never forsakes us.
A - Application
When the "tailwind" of God's favor hits my business and my personal life, my immediate fleshly response is often arrogance—just like on the pickleball court. I have to actively fight the urge to take credit for the victories God is handing me. Whether it's an unbelievable blood test result, a business deal turning to gold, or a comeback win on the court, I must consciously direct the glory back to Him. I need to be as grateful in the pruning as I am in the exaltation.
P - Prayer
Heavenly Father, forgive my arrogance. Thank You for the profound blessings You are pouring out on my life right now—from my health to my business. Help me to never become so blinded by the wins that I forget You are the one providing the tailwind. Guard my mouth and my heart so that I reflect Christ even in the heat of competition. Teach me to worship You perfectly in both the highs and the lows, until the day I am reunited with Cash. In Jesus' name, Amen.
