The 2020 NBA Draft has come to an end, and every team moves forward with the mentality they made the right selections. All of the drafted players now go on to prove themselves at the next level.
Interestingly, there’s an overall sense of hope surrounding the Draft in both the anticipation leading up to it and also afterward. As fans, we hope our team drafts the players we want, and ultimately live up to our expectations.
I once heard a fascinating conversation on the radio between Ryen Russillo and Will Cain that sums up our mindset. This comment especially grabbed my attention: “We fall in love with what we don’t know…we fill it with hope, what we expect and want to happen.”
That’s the mentality so many of us fans have during the Draft. Although we have no idea what’s going to happen, how good these players really are, or how their game translates to the NBA, we trust the “late first-rounder” is going to come through for our team.
We are mesmerized by their potential and have great hope for how good these players are going to be. We’ll even find ourselves convinced that a college player who averaged less than ten points last year will have an impact in the NBA. We love the uncertainty and the exciting possibilities.
Unfortunately, all too often our willingness to place hope in what we don’t know in sports is stronger than the hope we place in the uncertainty of our own lives.
But what if our faith and trust in God were so strong that we could actually “fall in love with what we don’t know” during the difficult times we face, and expect good things in the midst of them?
When our circumstances seem bleak, we must remember that as followers of Jesus we can place our hope in someone much greater and more powerful than ourselves or some “late first-rounder.”
Even when trials hit, what if we looked for the potential and had great expectations for what God was going to do?
After all, why would we place hope in a 19-year old kid and believe the impossible in sports, but hesitate to think God is going to do something remarkable in us and through our difficulties?
God makes it clear we can trust Him and place our hope in Him. Romans 15:13 (ESV) encourages us with these words: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”
Also, Psalm 71:14 (ESV) says, “But I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more.”
Today, let’s embrace the potential of what God can do and attach our hope to Him. Let’s truly view the uncertainty we face as an opportunity to “fall in love with what we don’t know.” We’re able to do this by trusting and falling in love with the One who does know.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I admit it’s hard to have hope when things seem bleak, but I know I can trust You. I believe the potential of Your power outweighs any difficulty. I have faith that You will comfort me while I face the unknown. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
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What unknowns are you excited or concerned about in your life?
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What does it mean to place our hope in God during uncertain times?
