College Basketball officially returns to action today and I’m fired up to see the opening day games. It will be fun to see the new freshmen that Duke and Kentucky are putting on the floor and I’m curious to watch which top-ranked teams will lose their first matchup of the season.
The one team I’m most intrigued by is Virginia. The last time we saw them play, they became the first #1 seed to lose to a #16 seed in the NCAA tournament.
It was a shocking and disappointing loss for head coach Tony Bennett and his players. They had high hopes for a deep run to the Championship, but instead, they ended up on the wrong side of history.
So the big question is, how will they respond? What kind of season will they have following that loss? Over the past few years they’ve been consistently a top team in the ACC and this year they come into the season ranked 5th in the country.
How has the loss affected this team? Can we count on them to bounce back? Eyes will be on Virginia throughout the season, as they hope to make it back to the tournament and show people just how strong their program really is.
When I interviewed Clark Kellogg last week on UNPACKIN’ it, he said he wouldn’t be surprised to see Virginia make the Final Four this year. According to Kellogg, “Sometimes your greatest successes come on the heels of your greatest disappointments.”
As a highly respected coach over the years, Tony Bennett has been outspoken about his faith, which he candidly shared in a previousUNPACKIN’ it interview. I’m sure Virginia’s loss greatly tested Bennett and there’s no doubt people have been watching how he’s handled this adversity.
When any of us experience hardships and surprising losses in life, we have a choice to make. We can either allow the disappointments to define us or we can allow them to set us up for future success.
As we consider whether or not to remain faithful and steadfast during the process, we can be encouraged by James 1:12 (ESV): “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.”
As followers of Jesus, people are watching us and wondering how we’ll respond to the heartache and setbacks in life. Do we have a genuine faith in God? Are our character and hope rooted in Him?
Do people see Jesus shining through in our response? Does a “loss to a 16 seed” knock us out…or motivate us to bounce back even stronger?
Today, as we find our resolve and strength in Jesus, let’s confidently declare the words written in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT):
“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me remain steadfast as I go through this trial. I ask for strength as I trust You to turn this disappointment into a future blessing. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
