This year’s Daytona 500 proved to be very memorable and packed with a wide range of emotions. After rain delays pushed the race’s finish to Monday evening, Denny Hamlin pulled out the win for the second year in a row and the third time in his career.
It was a wild and tight finish with Hamlin finishing .014 seconds ahead of Ryan Blaney for the second-closest finish in Daytona 500 history.
The race included two red flag stoppages, two overtimes, and a frightening wreck on the final lap involving Ryan Newman. Flipping upside down, sparks flying, and flames igniting, his car crossed the finish line on its roof.
Everyone’s attention quickly shifted to concern for Newman’s status as he was taken to the nearby hospital. His injuries were serious, but thankfully not life-threatening. However, those tense moments following the crash were filled with anguish and worry.
With everything happening all at once, Hamlin and the Joe Gibbs Racing team found themselves in a really tough spot as they celebrated their victory.
Hamlin explained, “I knew crossing the track there it was a bad scenario in the first place. It’s a weird balance of excitement and happiness for yourself, but obviously, someone’s health and their family is bigger than any win in any sport. We’re just hoping for the best.”
People questioned and criticized the team for celebrating while Newman was being taken care of by the medical staff, so owner Joe Gibbs reached out to apologize:
“I say to everybody out there, some people may have saw us and said, ‘those guys are celebrating when there’s a serious issue going on.’ So I apologize to everybody, but we really didn’t know.”
This was a difficult situation all around. Of course, Hamlin, Gibbs, and the team were excited about their victory, but understandably, their joy was tempered by Newman possibly fighting for his life.
As hard as this was to navigate for Joe Gibbs Racing last night, I find there is a challenging parallel in our own lives. There are times when we’re simultaneously filled with joy and sadness based on our own circumstances…or when something exciting is going on in our lives while someone else is in pain.
The racing team was obviously ecstatic about their win, but also heart-broken about Newman. Similarly, it’s easy to feel guilty when things are going well for us while a close friend is enduring a major trial, but sometimes we have to embrace feeling both types of emotions at the same time.
To take it a step further, as followers of Jesus, every day should be filled with joy, worship, celebration, and gratitude because we’ve been saved and we’ll spend eternity with God.
But, this life on earth is filled with situations that cause pain and suffering that lead to concern and heartache. Plus, when we realize that so many people don’t know God, we are overtaken by deep sorrow and concern because souls are on the line.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6 (NLT) about his hardships and everything he’s going through as a minister of the Gospel. In verse 10 he says, “Our hearts ache, but we always have joy…”
Despite all of Paul’s struggles, he continues the work of the Lord with an attitude of joy. He’s not denying the pain but is saying he has joy too.
I love the words used in two other versions of that verse as well. In the NIV it says, “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” and in the GNT it says “although saddened, we are always glad.”
Today, let’s keep rejoicing because of Jesus, but at the same time let’s not deny the sorrow and pain that are also very real.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me joy and comforting me in my pain. Please help me to still rejoice despite the sorrow I feel. I pray I’d have compassion for others who are hurting while also celebrating all of Your goodness. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
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Have you had a specific experience when you’ve felt both sorrow and joy at the same time?
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Have you held back your joy because you’ve felt guilty that things are going well in life?
