Question: Dr. Tony, I need your help. My husband is swiftly losing his faith in God because his favorite football team is constantly losing. Every time his team loses, he loses more of his faith. How can I help him look at it differently, and how can I get him not to watch so much football?
Answer:
I truly hope your husband’s faith isn’t tied to his team’s win–loss record. If it is, perhaps it’s time for a little perspective—and maybe even a little humor. Here’s one way to help him think about it differently:
If your husband is losing faith because his team keeps losing, it’s not exactly a rational response. Rather than abandon faith in God, it would make far more sense to just switch teams! After all, on any given game day, there are faithful fans praying on both sides for a win—but only one of those prayers can be answered. So if God chose to bless the other team, maybe your husband should start rooting for them!
Of course, no true sports fan would ever do that. Loyalty is built into their DNA. And ironically, that’s exactly what faith is all about.
The Hebrew word for faith, emunah, means “faithfulness” or “loyalty.” It’s not about feelings—it’s about devotion. Just as a diehard fan sticks with their team through every loss, every bad call, and every rebuilding season, a believer stays faithful to God through life’s ups and downs. We don’t switch sides when things don’t go our way. We stay rooted, trusting that the ultimate victory belongs to Him.
So if your husband’s biggest struggle in life right now is that his football team is losing, praise God that this is the battle he’s fighting! May all of life’s challenges be that light. But he must learn to untangle his faith from his fanhood. Football is recreation—it’s not revelation. Sports should bring enjoyment, not anxiety. The field isn’t the altar, and the score isn’t the measure of God’s favor.
When a game starts to cause more frustration than fun, it’s no longer serving its purpose. Watching less football might not be easy, but shifting his perspective is essential. Encourage him to channel that same passion and energy into the team that really matters—his family, his community, the body of Christ, and his relationship with God.
After all, God is the ultimate Coach who never loses, and being on His team guarantees victory that no scoreboard can measure.
So remind your husband of this simple truth: stay loyal to the One who never fails. Because unlike football, faith isn’t seasonal—it’s eternal.
