Nations and Devotions – Day 38 – A Prayer for France

But before I pray for France, I want to offer a reflection based on Psalm 126 and Soccer Psalm 126 entitled, The Comeback Starts Today.

And I think for many teams that maybe they've crashed out of the World Cup early, or maybe they didn't make it as far as they believed or had hoped, or even for a team in a nation like France to think we're going to go all the way to the final.

I think in many ways this theme and this subject is fitting.

First, let me read Psalm 126.

It's a song of ascents.

It would have been read as people walked and made their way to Jerusalem to worship in the temple.

The Lord has done great things for us and

we are filled with joy.

Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev.

Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy.

Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.

In Soccer Psalm 126, I paraphrase the verses this way.

A song of ascent from a lower league or relegation.

When God brought back the club from relegation, we were like fans who dreamed.

Our mouths were filled with laughter.

We sang the glorious, joyful club songs of old.

Then it was said around the nations, around the world, God has done great things for them.

God has done great things for us, and our hearts are grateful and filled with joy.

Restore the fortunes of the club, O God, like streams in the desert wasteland.

Those who invest in the club, even to the point of tears, will be blessed." Despite our long season of sorrow, we've faithfully kept coming and singing and supporting.

We're returning and going back up with joyful songs.

We all have a share in this hard work paying off.

Sometimes for many nations, it can feel like a pretty regular thing to show up at the World Cup, and then you can have a drought.

You can have a nation like Italy, which has had World Cup fame and stardom before, but it's been a number of tournaments since they've actually been in the World Cup.

And sometimes when we make it a certain distance in a tournament like this, and we fall short of expectations or where we thought we might land, we can struggle.