Mixed feelings are being shared by people with big voices about whether or not the NBA should or will return to finish the season.

Shaquille O’Neal weighed in with his thoughts: “I think we should scrap the season. Everybody go home, get healthy, come back next year. Just scrap the season.”

Charles Barkley said, “It’s too dangerous, it’s not safe, I don’t know how they can make it safe.”

Mark Cuban gave this response: “I love those guys, but they’re wrong. I mean, guys want to play. There’s still a season to be finished out. I still think we can play a few games and then go into the playoffs, crown a champion. Let’s go. Let’s play. The country needs it too, man. We need something to cheer for. We need something to get excited about. I mean, watching cornhole on ESPN ain’t it.”

The league is trying to figure out the best course of action and they have details to iron out, but today’s headlines are encouraging:

“NBA Owners, Execs Hopeful for Return After Call With Adam Silver, Sources Say.”

“NBA Getting More Optimistic About Return to Play This Season.”

I’m not sure when the NBA will return, but as a fan reading these headlines, I have a renewed hope and optimism.

The differing opinions, feelings, outlooks, and approaches to the NBA resuming are filled with either optimism, positivity, and hope…or fear, worry, and negativity.

The same is true with our own perspectives when looking at the current state of the world. We are wrestling with feelings of fear, worry, hope, optimism, wisdom, and wanting to give up.

There are plenty of people that lean toward being cynical about our situation, the government, and what happens next, but then there are those who totally disregard the harsh reality of the circumstances and have no basis for their naive optimism.

As followers of Jesus, we must seek God’s wisdom to help us make good decisions and have the right approach to living in a broken world filled with viruses, pain, and uncertainty.

We know that God is good and wants us to place our hope and confidence in Him instead of being consumed with fear and worry.

With all of this on our hearts and minds as we navigate unchartered territory, most of us are trying to figure out how to pray and keep our optimism rooted in Him.

While currently reading the book, A Praying Life by Paul E. Miller, I was encouraged by the following:

“Instead of naive optimism, Jesus calls us to be wary, yet confident in our heavenly Father. We are to combine a robust trust in the Good Shepherd with a vigilance about the presence of evil in our own hearts and in the hearts of others.

“The feel of a praying life is cautious optimism-caution because of the Fall, optimism because of redemption. Cautious optimism allows Jesus to boldly send his disciples into an evil world.”

Before Jesus sent His disciples out, He said in Matthew 10:16 (TLB): “I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. Be as wary as serpents and harmless as doves.”

Because life is hard and filled with brokenness, we must remain careful, alert, and wise. Thankfully, Jesus strengthens us as we walk through this fallen world and gives us the hope that one day He’ll return and fully restore what has been broken.

By trusting that truth and going to God in prayer, we’ll also be filled with hope and optimism that He’s moving, redeeming, and working in the midst of all that we’re facing right now.

When it comes to certain aspects of sports and life resuming, we should be cautiously optimistic, but not cynical or foolish. As it says in Proverbs 17:22 (AMP), “A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”

Today, let’s keep our eyes joyfully fixed on Jesus…and as Paul writes,

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises” (Romans 15:13; AMP).

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for hearing my prayers and filling me with hope and optimism. I pray I’d also be cautious and wise, and not cynical as I live in this fallen world. Thank you for sending Jesus to the cross on my behalf. I long for His return. In His name, I pray, Amen.

Discussion Questions for PACKS: