There is actually a play named, “The Play That Goes Wrong.” I was hesitant at first to go see it, but Allen wanted to see in while we were in NY, and so I obliged. It was hysterical. The play is supposed to be a murder mystery, but the whole point of the production is well…everything goes wrong. Before the play starts the stage hand walks onto stage all in a panic. She begins asking the audience if they have seen a dog. Apparently the dog that is in the play has gone missing. She walks around the audience in search, and another stage hand begins to assist. Things really don’t get better from there. At one point the lead actress is knocked out and is taken off stage. The next act you see the same stage hand who was looking for the dog come on to stage dressed as the lead actress with a book in her hand – trying to act normal while reading the script to the play. Throughout the play, the set falls apart, the audience is sprayed with water, just about anything that can go wrong does.
It was perhaps the best play I have ever seen. It was hysterically funny. Al and I had a great time. Afterwards it made me think. We normally don’t notice mistakes in performances we watch. Actors do their best to cover them up, but talk to the actor and they are mortified that they messed up. A little bobble is something they will remember for years. Even if no one notices. This play made fun of this. And in so doing it was truly enjoyable. Today’s sermon is entitled, “The Play That Goes Wrong.” Our life is really a giant production, and at the end of it, nothing we do really matters. No amount of mistakes matter. We may think that we have to live a perfect life, but the director has already seen our work, and He knows we have flaws, but I guarantee you that he is there to support you – and at the end of the day, if you but accept his invitation, you can come to the after production party and enjoy a celebration in His palace.
Point 1: The Director Sees It All – And Still Casts You
Even when the lights come up and the audience gasps at the unexpected, there is one who isn’t surprised—the Director. God doesn’t cast us because we’re flawless. He casts us because He loves us.
In a real play, directors know their actors will make mistakes. They train, they rehearse, but even still, something will go wrong. Life is no different. God, our Director, knows your flaws—yet He still chose you.
We read in Romans 5:1-8 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
You probably already know, but this is my favorite passage in the Bible. The KJV says we experience tribulation. The NIV is sufferings. Tough times produce perseverance or patience. Patience results in experience or character and this character leads to hope. How beautiful is that. If life was a boring easy endeavor, how could we really truly enjoy and appreciate the good times. The most powerful verse in Romans 5:1-8 is verse 8. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Even though we are not perfect and we must endure may trials and tribulations, Christ still gave his life for us – because he loves us that much.
In 1 Samuel 16:7 God declares, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
You are not on the stage of life by accident. You are not a background character in someone else’s story. God sees every line you flub, every time you miss your cue—and He still calls you beloved.
We find in Luke Chapter 22, that Even Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends, denied Him three times. Yet Jesus restored him and used him as the rock on which He built His Church Our mistakes don’t disqualify us from our role; they often prepare us for it.
Point 2: The Set May Fall Apart, But the Story Still Stands
In “The Play That Goes Wrong,” the set literally collapses. Walls fall, props malfunction, and yet somehow the actors carry on. Life is no different. The scenery around us—our jobs, relationships, health, and plans—may crumble, but the story of God’s grace remains unshaken.
Open up your Bibles, check to make sure this verse is there. I assure you that it is. We read in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” God knows we are going to have rough times, He said as much. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, He said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” God knows our weaknesses, but He has a greater plan, one that will work for good for those who love him. We read in Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” And in Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
When Paul and Silas were thrown in prison, they didn't say, “Well, this scene wasn’t in the script.” Instead, they sang hymns* (Acts 16:25), and God used that moment to shake the foundations—literally—and set others free.
Don’t judge your life by the broken set pieces. God is still telling a beautiful story through you. He’s the Author and the Finisher of your faith, and even when the curtains look torn, the message is eternal.
When Joni Eareckson was just 17 years old, a diving accident shattered her spine and left her a quadriplegic. In a split second, the vibrant, athletic teenager’s life fell apart—like the collapsing set of a stage play. Her body didn’t work. Her dreams crumbled. Her faith trembled.
At first, she begged God for healing. She plunged into depression. She even asked friends to help her end her life. Her prayers seemed to bounce off the hospital ceiling. The set was broken. The curtains were torn. And she didn’t know her next line.
But God hadn’t left the theater.
Over time—through friends, mentors, and Scripture—Joni began to realize something profound: though her body was broken, her life was not over. She began painting with her mouth. She started singing. She wrote books. She launched Joni and Friends, a ministry that serves tens of thousands of people with disabilities around the world.
Joni once said,
“God permits what He hates to accomplish what He loves.”
Her accident was never God’s punishment—it was the platform. Her brokenness became her stage, and the story God wrote through her life brought hope to millions.
Today, Joni still lives in a wheelchair. But listen to her words:
“I'd rather be in this chair knowing Him, than on my feet without Him.”
Her stage never got rebuilt. But the message of grace, strength in weakness, and unshakable joy shines brighter than ever.
Point 3: The Curtain Call Will Be Glorious
In a play, the audience waits for the ending—the curtain call—where every actor, no matter how many lines they missed, takes a bow. And often, those who endured the most get the loudest applause. God has promised that our curtain call—the day we see Him face to face—will be worth the struggle.
In James 1:12 we read, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life.” And in Galatians 6:9 we read – “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” I will admit that at the end of many plays, I will often have a tear in my eye. But guess what, just like a good play, God promises us that after this life, as we read in Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”
You may feel like your life is off-script. You may feel like you’ve been playing the wrong part or fumbling your lines. But take heart—there’s a celebration at the end.
The prodigal son wandered far, messed up royally, and yet when he returned, the Father ran to him, put a robe on his back, a ring on his hand, and threw a feast (Luke 15:20–24). That’s the kind of ending our Director has in store. Not shame. Not scolding. Celebration.
When Al and I departed NY, everything that could go wrong went wrong… The plane out of LaGuardia was delayed and when we finally boarded we were on the tarmac for about 2 hours. We finally made it to Charlotte, but had to get rebooked. Instead of landing in Tri Cities by 5 p.m. we were to arrive in Tri Cites after midnight. That plane was also delayed. We did finally take off, but right as we flew into Tri Cities, we had to turn around and return to Charlotte, the weather turned us back. We arrived in Charlotte at about 1 a.m. and had to stay the night there for a morning takeoff. It was miserable. To top it off, during this time Al was on the phone most of the free hours he had because his identity had been stolen. It was the day that goes wrong. As Al was reeling from a pretty miserable day, I told Al two things:
1. Life is like a play. Things are going to go wrong, but with the right attitude, your tragedy can become a triumph, and your story can one day uplift others.
2. Learn from this. As *Romans 5:1–5* reminds us, “tribulation brings patience, patience brings experience and experience brings hope.” And hope does not disappoint.
I once saw a quote that said, “God, why are you making me navigate these choppy waters?”
And God replied, “Because your enemy can’t swim.” God is there for us, he is giving us experience so that we can truly understand the nature of true love. We may endure tough times, but at the end of the day, if we but rely on him, he will direct our paths
Hold on to that.
Whatever goes wrong—missed lines, broken sets, forgotten cues—our Director isn’t giving up on you.
In fact, He’s preparing you for the final act, where the lights will shine, the music will rise, and the applause of heaven will echo through eternity.
Because at the end of the play, we’re not judged by perfection.
We’re judged by the one who already wrote our names in His script of grace.
So go ahead.
Take your place on the stage.
Trust the Director.
And play your part. Let’s pray
