Does God Care Who Wins The Stanley Cup?

PresbyCan Daily Devotional

Romans 8:28 – And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (NASB)
Sifting through old memories-in-a-box can often uncover some long-forgotten items that stir a few controversies that are as relevant today as they were back then. One such item was a 30-year-old Sports Illustrated article that asked, "Does God care who wins the Super Bowl?"
Since much of my career was spent in society's sandbox (sport), it was an intriguing question to ask, especially since I recall a little mea culpa along the way. It is now a shade embarrassing to admit praying for the outcome of a particular hockey game, seeing that it was sort of miraculously answered, then later wondering about the absurdity of putting God on the spot.
What about the fan for the other team praying for a different outcome? Pretty simple summation, wot?
Many fans are familiar with the athletes who raise an arm to the heavens or kneel down after a touchdown or a home run, or teammates gathering in a circle to bow in prayer following a win. We recognize those who show outward glory to God.
Then, there are guys like major league pitcher Dave Dravecky, who had managed a sparkling comeback from cancer in his throwing arm, only to suffer, in a highly publicized television highlight, that same arm snap in a throwing motion in the midst of a game. Dave Dravecky thanked God for a career in baseball and went on to another distinguished career — in ministry.
Some committed Christian athletes believe that God does get involved when they win. Legendary Green Bay Packer, Reggie White, a pastor himself, objected to theologians' general view that God would not care about the outcome, if He even knew that such a game was being played in the first place. White bowed to Scripture references such as God's support of David against Goliath.
Particularly hair-splitting is my preference for God-incidence over co-incidence. Does God really deflect that pass or cause that fumble?
Far too many fans get intensely tuned into the game, while thousands of innocents are injured or die in wars in the Middle East and Ukraine or starve in Africa or North Korea. Methinks our good Lord has many other things on His mind. For us, sport is playtime, escapism.
Yep, the Grey Cup game is coming in Canada and the National Hockey League faces off another season today.
Remember … God just might care … care that it's only a game.
Prayer: Lord, help us to remember that Your instruction to us, through the example of Jesus Christ, is to serve You through serving others. We often tend to shrug off the evils that surround us because we have little interest or control. But we are thankful that the very least that we can do is to pray — for Your help in our distress, and for Your will to be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Amen.