Paul Woolley writes, "‘Never say die’ doesn’t just apply to sport."
It was nerve-wracking and glorious. On Tuesday, Scotland’s men qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 with a dramatic 4–2 victory over Denmark at Hampden Park. Steve Clarke’s side needed a win to secure their place, yet twice surrendered the lead before transforming their fortunes in a sensational finish. As the BBC’s Andy Swift put it, it was ‘an unforgettable end to an unforgettable night.
This article is from the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity section on Connecting with Culture.
At 2–2 heading into injury time, qualification looked all but gone. Then Kieran Tierney edged Scotland ahead, and from the halfway line Kenny McLean sealed the result with a stunning strike that will live long in memory. Captain Andy Robertson summed up the moment simply: ‘Never say die. We just keep going right to the end.’
Perseverance is a significant biblical theme, though it rarely takes centre stage. We tend to celebrate the victories but overlook the unseen work – the ordinary faithfulness. Much of discipleship involves exactly that: following Jesus in the everyday, sometimes with little to show for our efforts, sometimes through situations that feel slow, frustrating, or fruitless.
The tale of another Scot, Robert the Bruce, and a spider captures this powerfully. I was often told it as a child. Defeated and hiding in a cave, Bruce watched a small spider fail again and again to spin its web. Only on the seventh attempt did it succeed. Inspired by its persistence, Bruce rallied his weary forces and, after victory at Bannockburn, eventually secured Scottish independence. Whether or not the story is historically accurate, its message endures: keep going, never give up, even when every attempt seems to fall short.
In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul writes: ‘I press on toward the goal, toward the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:14). Paul’s language is athletic, but the heart of it is spiritual grit – the decision to trust, obey, and hope when the outcome is not yet visible.
Most of us will never score a World Cup-qualifying goal, but the way of Jesus asks something similar of us: to press on. Scotland’s triumph offers a picture of resilience that mirrors our own calling. Whatever challenges we face, we are invited to persevere – confident that the prize before us is greater than any sporting glory and that God faithfully strengthens those who keep going to the end.
Paul is CEO at LICC
This article is from the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity section on Connecting with Culture.
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