In Tough Moment, As His Best Friend Was Hurting, Even In Defeat, C.J. Stroud Continued To Trust God
We've all seen C.J. Stroud celebrate his faith in God and Jesus Christ in postgame interviews after a victory, and it has become a staple of what he stands for – to be thankful for his blessings. But Saturday was different.
Saturday was not a blessing. It was a day full of defeat and pain and, yes, perhaps even fear that the worst had come to pass.
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) shows concern for injured wide receiver Tank Dell (3) (not pictured) during the second half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Stroud's Answer To Pain Is Prayer
That's how it was when Stroud saw teammate and best friend Tank Dell on the ground after catching a touchdown pass against the Kansas City Chiefs, writhing in pain and clutching at his left knee that seemed dislocated from the spot God intended it.
So what was Stroud's answer then? When God's blessing was not at all present?
"All you can do is really pray," Stroud said after thinking about it for a while. "At the end of the day, God still gets the glory. No matter what happens to me, I know that I am up here by the grace of Jesus, the grace of who He is on my life, in Tank’s life.
"For anything, left or right, up or down, I always have to praise my Lord and Savior. It’s not easy. After that, I try to use it as motivation. It’s not easy to let it go. That’s my best friend. It’s not easy to move on and keep playing, but I tried to do it as best as I could.
"My teammates held me up. Joe Mixon, Dalton Schultz held me up. I appreciate those guys just talking to me. I was going through it, and I appreciate them just being there for me."
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) reacts after an injury to wide receiver Tank Dell (not pictured) during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Finding Jesus In Time Of Trouble
The snapshots of Stroud fighting to keep his emotions in check were all over the NBC broadcast. He was visibly distraught and seemed on the verge of tears. He watched then buried his head on the shoulder of teammates.
And he prayed. So what was the Houston Texans quarterback praying for in those difficult moments?
"Just Jesus, finding him in this moment," Stroud said. "It’s not easy to. I just prayed for peace over Tank’s head, his mental, his physical. We serve a miraculous God. I believe in healing, and I pray that the Lord can heal him. It’s something that will be another bump in the road for Tank.
"It sucks to say, but at the end of the day, this is not the end for Tank, it’s just the beginning. We know that God didn’t necessarily do this. It’s football. At the same time, in the Word it says that God will never leave us or forsake us, or forsake Tank, or anyone that gets injured on that field or deals with anything tragic in life.
"Once you confess it with your mouth and believe it in your heart that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, He will never leave or forsake you. He will show you his peace, He will give you his love and mercy. I pray that Tank will find Him in this. It’s ultimately our foundation. It’s not easy to say that."
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (3) reacts after an injury while scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Kansas City Chiefs at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Stroud Knows There Are Doubters
Stroud knows what some people hearing his words might think.
They might challenge him for trusting God. They might even mock him for having the unmitigated gall to even believe God exists at all.
Stroud has love for those who doubt.
"There are people in the world that might not believe that or might not understand, but I pray that one day they can," he said. "There was nothing that Tank did that was wrong. There is something that God is realigning to use to realign him back to see Jesus again. I pray that over Tank right now in the name of Jesus.
"I’m tore up but at the same time, I have to be strong for him."
That's the thing the world doesn't understand. It asks where was your God or your Jesus in when Dell's knee was injured? Or when that innocent child was shot in a drive-by? Or when that young person was ravaged by cancer?
Some of those people even blame a God they don't believe exists for the curse that has befallen the Earth.
What they don't understand is God didn't author any of that trouble. God is love.
Dec 21, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (3) is carted off the field after an injury during the second half against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
God Can Work Evil For Your Good
It is actually the plan and mission of evil itself that comes to steal, kill and destroy. That's who or what causes all that is terrible and painful on the Earth. At least that is what the Bible says.
Stroud believes that. He believes God can use what the enemy intended for Dell's harm and turn it around for his good.
And Stroud is not alone. The fact is the NFL is filled with Christians who share that belief.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is one of those. So Mahomes found Stroud amid his torment and let him know that he would also pray for Dell.
"It shows his heart and the man of God he is," Stroud said of his quarterback counterpart. "I pray for him and his family as well. It’s very nice of him. It shows the heart that he has.
"Patrick had a lot of nice things to say, that he was going to be praying for Tank. I’m appreciative of that. I know that God always listens to our prayers. It meant a lot. At the same time, you never want to see somebody go like that, so they understand. Nobody wants anybody to get hurt. It was nice for them to say their prayers and to see their hearts like that."