Nothing feels more painful than a losing streak to the teams that experience them or their fans. The suffering never seems to end. Here are just a few examples.

The Northwestern Wildcats’ 34-game losing streak is the longest in Division I football history. During the team’s winless 1981 season, they were outscored by an average of 40 points per game.

The documentary Quantum Hoops shows a Division III men’s basketball program that lost an NCAA record of 207 games.

Perhaps the most famous losing streak in sports is the Chicago Cubs, which had gone 105 years without a World Series Championship.

Revelation 8 – A Little Longer

How much longer? That’s the question every sports fan asks at the beginning of each season as they wait for change. The Old Testament asked this same question in Psalm 4:2. However, it had nothing to do with sports but everything to do with how long people would ruin God’s reputation and His love for what is worthless while seeking lies. “O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek lies?” (Psalm 4:2). This same question is asked throughout the Book of Psalms.

God finally answers His people’s prayers by showing His holiness and judging the world in Revelation 8. Once His people have been sealed for Him, judgment was no longer withheld. Verses 3-5 suggest this judgment came in response to appeals for justice from His people. The four trumpet blasts are followed by judgments—the land, the sea, the rivers, and the lights in the heavens. These events result because God is judging sin, making His people fear God and hate sin. The primary purpose of God’s judgments in this book is to gain the world’s attention when it refuses to listen. When God finally redeems His broken creation, making things right will come at a high cost.

 The Kingdom Coach and Athlete understand the question, “How much longer?” is answered in the book of Revelation with the answer, “A little longer.” which encourages them to keep praying.