Last night was supposed to be this year's National Championship game in college basketball. As disappointed as I am that there wasn't one, I am thrilled that Virginia gets to be the reigning champs for another year.
Their story is one of the best stories in the history of sports, and although it's gotten attention and recognition, I don't think we've talked enough about it.
Recognizing they are the only 1-seed to ever lose to a 16-seed and then win the National Championship the following year is truly unbelievable!
Unfortunately for them, last year after they won it all, Virginia was overshadowed by Tiger Woods. He won the Masters less than a week later and the sports world quickly moved on.
Coach Tony Bennett is one of my favorite UNPACKIN' it guests, so today I want to take a look back at what Virginia accomplished. Specifically, let's unpack the powerful words coach Bennett said in a press conference before they won last year's National Championship:
“Going through what we did, losing and all those things, I told the team it created a fire in me that wanted to become a better coach and pursue trying to get these guys to as far as they can, a Final Four, the National Championship.“It’s burning hot, but it did something I think maybe as significant or greater. It made me realize that if that never does happen, I’ll still be okay. Because I’ve been blessed beyond what I deserve. And I think it’s freed me up to go after this as hard as I can, as hard as we can.
“Would I love to be a son and father who coached in a Final Four? be great. But if it doesn’t happen, you have to say, ‘Hey, you are going to be okay.’ And that’s what I learned. And that’s invaluable. So I’m at peace, but I’m very hungry.”
I greatly appreciate Bennett's humility and the stance he takes for his faith. His comment, “…if that never does happen, I’ll still be okay” especially stands out because when we get to a place where being okay isn’t based on things going our way, we can finally live with peace, contentment, and satisfaction.
Although we have our own “Final Four” aspirations (being promoted at work, getting married, having a baby, or being healed, to name a few), while we wait to attain them, we can easily get frustrated, upset, discouraged, or angry.
But, although it's what we really want and hope for, can we get to the point of saying, “If that never does happen, I’ll still be okay”?
As followers of Jesus, when our peace and contentment are found in Him, we can be okay regardless of our circumstances.
Paul encourages us in 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (AMP): “Now may the Lord of peace Himself grant you His peace at all times and in every way . The Lord be with you all.”
To take it a step further, there’s a powerful story in Daniel 3:17-18 (AMP) where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego give this inspirational response before being thrown into a fire for not bowing down to idols:
“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up!”
The truth is, God is able to answer our prayers. However, if things turn out differently than we hope or we have to wait longer than we want to, we must remain faithful and filled with peace because in Jesus we are always going to be okay.
And oftentimes, as seen in the stories with coach Bennett and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, when we get to that genuine point of surrender and contentment, God ends up delivering in an amazing way.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray I’d get to the point where I’m okay and at peace – even if I don’t receive what I want or accomplish all of my dreams. Help me to rest in Jesus and praise You regardless of my circumstances. It’s in Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
*To hear another example of this, listen to the Donnie Shell podcast where he shares his journey of waiting for many years before finally being selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. LISTEN HEREDiscussion Questions for PACKS:
Do you have an example of a time when you truly got to the point of saying, "Even if not, I'll be okay"?
What is something you need to surrender to and then declare those words?
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