Issue 1| 2023

STEPPING FORWARD
BENCHED BY GOD?
USE YOUR TIME WISELY
BY CHRISTINA KIMBREL
I HAVE NEVER CARED ABOUT SPORTS
of any kind. Then I got married.
For the last two years, I have been in
boot camp, learning to be the wife of an
avid sports lover. Any game involving a ball
makes my otherwise attentive husband
oblivious to the world around him.
To keep harmony in my home and avoid
being a nagging wife, I sometimes sit with
him through the games, absorbing more
information than I will ever need or use. I
have learned about teams, players, touchdowns,
field goals, offense and defense,
and good versus poor sportsmanship.
Players who spend time on the bench
consistently catch my attention. Whether
they’re there because of injury, poor performance,
or not following the game plan
or their coach’s lead, being benched is a
big deal. It can be a temporary setback,
or it can define their career.
The player’s attitude and ability to receive
correction and instruction is what
makes the difference. Those who decide
to use the experience to gain wisdom and
guidance are likely to emerge as better
players and possibly even better people.
The same principles apply to our life and
our walk with Jesus. My ultimate bench
experience happened the third time I went
to prison. The first two times I got locked
up, I didn’t know the Lord, and I wasn’t interested
in trying to do better in life.
I didn’t see myself as the problem. I
blamed other people and my circumstances
for where I had wound up. The chaos
and dysfunction of my life had become
comfortable, so it didn’t even occur to me
that I should try to change.
But after 25 years of repeating the same
cycle, I was barely alive and exhausted
from doing things my way. In His grace
and mercy, God put me on the bench, and
I finally realized my need for Him. There,
I surrendered my life to Jesus and decided
to let Him be the head coach of my life.
I spent the rest of my prison time immersed in my Bible.
It’s God’s playbook for a meaningful life (Hebrews 4:12). If you
want lasting transformation, God’s Word is where you’ll find it.
Once released, I surrounded myself with like-minded people
who were invested in my success. Five years later, they still
take the time to walk with me, share their wisdom, and cover
me in prayer as I learn to live for Christ. When I mess up or
when my thinking is skewed or I misbehave, they don’t just
tell me what they think I want to hear. They tell me the truth
about myself and lovingly redirect me to God’s Word.
No matter how you get to the bench, trust that God knows
what’s best for you. He may require you to sit it out with Him
several times throughout your life. Our heavenly Father deals
with us individually according to what we need (Hebrews 12:7).
If He puts you on the bench, sit there and learn!
Is yours a physical bench or an invisible one? Are you in a
season of correction? Maybe God wants you to be still for a
while and get your priorities straight. Pay attention! Look for
the lessons and the wisdom around you. More importantly,
listen for God.
Spend your time on the bench wisely. Ask the Lord to show
you in His Word how to change, how to break old habits and
behaviors, and how to become more like Him. God disciplines
you because He loves you (Proverbs 3:12). He wants you to
become everything He created you to be—for your good and
His glory (Ephesians 1:4–6).
No matter
how you get
to the bench,
believe that
God knows
what is best
for you.
CHRISTINA KIMBREL
serves as Victorious Living’s
production manager. Once
incarcerated, she now
ministers hope to those
held captive by their past
and current circumstances
while sharing the message of
healing she found in Jesus.
VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM
Issue 01 / 2023
19