Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending injury while playing the Green Bay Packers on October 29. Yet the 35-year-old is directing his attention higher – to Christ and His plans for him.

Cousins was injured in the fourth quarter of the game, and was subsequently carted off to the locker room. The Vikings went on to beat the Packers 24-10. The team is 6-6 this season.

Cousins had surgery on November 1 to repair his torn Achille. “Surgery was a success!” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, following the operation. “Grateful for your prayers, Dr. Coetzee’s abilities, and our medical team. Would appreciate continued prayers! One day at a time…”

Cousins doesn’t know when he’ll be cleared to return, though recovery from a torn Achilles tendon typically takes at least several months.

Addressing the injury in a November 17 press conference, Cousins, a devout Christian and the son of an evangelical pastor, shared that he is turning to his faith and his family to get him through the injury.

“You don’t quite know how many people are in your corner or how many people are praying for you and cheering you on until something like this happens,” he said, adding,

I’m excited to kind of write the next chapter and see what God wants to do with it, whatever it may be. And just kind of be reminded, again, that you know, I’ve kind of got my career. It’s not my career. You know, it’s kind of His career that I steward. And I just got to surrender myself and let Him lead where He wants to go.

The quarterback shared that he is trying to accept the injury “just as much as if it’s a win on Monday Night Football.”

“You know, it goes both ways. And I’m just a steward of what He gives me, and when He gives me a torn Achilles, I got to steward that,” Cousins said.

Cousins’ faith and attitude of perseverance are inspiring to witness. It’s easy to praise the Lord when things are going well. It’s far harder to do so when we come across troubles and frustrations.

Scripture teaches that in general, the righteous prosper and the wicked perish.

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8, ESV).

However, its corollary is not always true. It’s not always true that those who prosper are righteous, and those who suffer are wicked.

The book of Job reminds us that oftentimes, bad things can – and do – happen to good people. And good things can happen to bad people.

In response, our attitude should be one of faith and trust in the ultimate justice of the Lord, who “will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury” (Romans 2:6-8, ESV).

In the meantime, we respond to our sufferings as Job did:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21, ESV).

Thanks to Kirk Cousins for setting a model example of how we should respond to trials in this life. Consider praying for Kirk and for his quick recovery.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins recently appeared on the Focus on the Family Broadcast to share his family story and his football journey. He also discussed the importance of discipleship and evangelism in impact the culture. You can listen to “Kirk Cousins: Living as an Ambassador for Christ” by clicking here. Or you can watch it below:

Related articles and resources:

Focus on the Family: Faith

Kirk Cousins: Living as an Ambassador for Christ

Photo from Getty.