JoePa Faces God

Ugly

The recent situation has been the drop of poison that ruined the soup of 60 years of great works and donations by Joe Paterno at Penn State. All of the fabulous efforts spent inspiring and challenging young people and excelling in coaching is now stained.

The situation is so bad that they have already taken his name off of the Big 10 championship trophy and there have been rumors about plans to remove the statue of him from outside Beaver Stadium. The shame is overwhelming—plus he realizes he did it to himself.

Ever create a nightmare of your own?

Although there’s little chance you’ve ever done something on this scale, it’s unusual that any of us go through life without creating some kind of excruciating, embarrassing nightmare scenario of our own. The kind of thing that once it’s done cannot be undone and cannot be denied.

So at the point that it’s too big of a mess for you to fix what do you do to get back on track and living a energized productive life?

What should Joe do?

First—admit it! You confess and accept blame. That’s the first thing God wants out of you.

Then you pray and ask His help, after all, it’s way past the point that Joe can do much about it. This has fallen to the level that only God can create a healing solution and bring peace.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)

Joe did that. 

He said we need to pray for "those kids." He wanted those concerned to help him ask for God's intervention.

Sandusky? No praying there. No asking God's help, so he won't get any. He is more interested in protecting himself than helping those who were reported to be harmed and abused so he continues to live in denial.

Joe said “I should have done more. I regret it more than anything in my life.”

On the other hand, the alleged perpetrator, Sandusky, got on TV and denied it. Wrong Move. Nothing good is going to happen until you make the first step.

So what do you do after that?

When the first step in recovering from any self inflicted disaster is to repent, the next step is to ask God's help. Joe is doing that. 

No one is surprised because that has been the overwhelming pattern to his life. To accept responsibility. To take a stand for what’s right and encourage and insist that those around them do the same.

Cast your cares upon the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. (Psalm 55:22)

Joe made mistakes, bad ones. But we are all capable of creating nightmares. Thank goodness when we do, we have someone to turn to who can bring peace.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you. (I Peter 5:7)