The NCAA Tournament had a strong first weekend with many good games, but I still can’t get over the crazy game with number eight-seeded UNC pulling out a 93-86 upset over the reigning National Champions, Baylor, in overtime.
Although the Tar Heels were in the lead most of the game and up 25 points in the second half, it started slipping away with 10:08 left to go in regulation.
UNC’s Brady Manek scored 26 points before he was ejected from the game after a flagrant foul. With that as a turning point, the momentum flipped toward Baylor as they outscored UNC 38-13 during the final ten minutes of the second half, which sent the game into overtime.
Surprisingly, however, the game flipped back toward UNC’s favor as they outscored Baylor 13-6 in overtime to win the game and advance to the Sweet 16. It was wild watching this game go from a blowout to a close game, but the words being used to describe what took place from both teams’ perspectives are “resilient” and “composure.”
I watched the postgame analysis from the CBS guys and Wally Szczerbiak happened to be filling in for Charles Barkley. What he said caught my attention: “No matter what the score is on the scoreboard you better keep your composure because the game can flip quickly.”
This game demonstrated how a team can’t assume they’re going to hang onto a big lead…and a team can’t give up when it finds itself significantly losing.
Although both coaches had reasons to panic when their teams were facing adversity, their players could hear them in the huddle and look at the sideline to see them remaining calm and keeping their composure. This clearly helped the players to be resilient and finish strong.
Even CBS analyst and UNC alumn, Kenny Smith, demonstrated his composure while watching and Wally Szerbiack took notice with this comment: “I will give you a lot of credit, you were the calmest of all of us up here, you were very positive, you were like we got this, we’re gonna take care of business.”
When it comes to our own lives, we have many situations that test us and allow us to either remain calm and keep our composure…or panic and worry. When a “lead” starts to slip or we find ourselves losing significantly, how do we respond? Where do we turn to and who do we listen to?
Thankfully, as followers of Jesus, we can trust in Him because He’s with us, is in control, and is always calm in the midst of any storm. He’s powerful enough to remove the storm and willing to give us the peace and strength we need to get through it. We’re able to keep our composure and be resilient when we look to Him “on the sideline” and listen to Him in the “huddle.”
The Bible describes a remarkable scene found in Mark 4:35-40 (NLT): “As evening came, Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.’ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
“Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up, shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t You care that we’re going to drown?’
“When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Silence! Be still!’ Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then He asked them, ‘Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?’”
Many of us today might be feeling great about life with our 25-point lead, while others are dealing with difficulties and storms. But as Wally Szerbiack said, “No matter what the score is on the scoreboard you better keep your composure because the game can flip quickly.”
The challenge for us today is to always keep our composure, regardless of what’s going on in life. We know that with Jesus on our sideline or in our boat, He can “flip circumstances” around quickly.
We don’t have to panic or be afraid, because our faith is in Him and people will take notice when we are the calmest (like Kenny Smith): “...very positive, we got this, we’re gonna take care of business.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You know what I’m facing today and I pray that I would rely on Your peace in the midst of the storm. I pray I’d keep my composure as the storms arise, and stay calm as I place my faith in Jesus. In His name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What storms are you facing right now and do you find yourself panicking or keeping your composure?
How does where we place our faith determine how calm we remain?
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