Jay Paterno, broke down during a post-game interview with ESPN, not because the Penn State football team lost, but because of the shame cast on his father, Joe. “Dad, I wish you were here. We love you."
Joe Paterno reportedly lost his head coaching post because of a scandal involving defensive coach, Jerry Sandusky. Life is like that sometimes. The wrong actions of one person reverberate and impact countless others.
Everyone faces brokenness at one time or another. It could have been a broken heart. It could have been broken dreams, but life often deals us a blow that leaves us wounded and wishing for answers.
In this case, the alleged victims lives were shattered by someone they trusted. Their lives are filled with the pain of betrayal. But the impact of the child molestation didn’t end there.
The Penn State community, the Paterno family and Jerry Sandusky’s family, all feel the pain caused by inappropriate behavior or worse. None of them could have imagined all of the negative attention one person’s behavior caused. Yet each of them must somehow pick up the pieces and learn to live again.
You may not be a world renowned football coach and perhaps the press isn’t knocking on your door trying to make headlines out of your failures, but you still know brokenness. It might be a love lost, a job taken by the economic downturn or something far deeper, but somewhere along the line you have longed for someone to make you whole again.
This is a broken world filled with broken people who hope for wholeness. There is hope.
Jesus Christ, God’s Son, came to give each of us the opportunity to begin again. He took the pain of our failures on His shoulders. He bore the pain of our brokenness on His back. He is willing to give you new life and new hope.
It begins with a simple prayer: “Dear Jesus, I am sorry for the wrong things I have done. I am broken and need healing. I am tired of the pain life dealt me. Please give me new life as I declare You to be Lord and Savior of my life. In Jesus’ name, amen!”
If you prayed that prayer today, click the button below and someone will contact you to help you take the next step toward wholeness.
- Bill Hennessy
