2011. It all begins. On January 11th, the Carolina Panthers hire Ron Rivera as their new Head Coach. On April 26th, they select Cam Newton as the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. Excitement and anticipation are coming to the Carolinas.
Even though the Panthers finish 6-10, Cam is awarded the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. Things are definitely looking up for the Panthers and hope is rising.
2012. The Panthers draft Luke Kuechly as the ninth overall pick in the NFL Draft. That fall the Panthers finish 7-9, but Luke is awarded the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
With Cam and Luke alongside other quality players like Steve Smith, Greg Olsen, Thomas Davis, Jonathan Stewart, and DeAngelo Williams, the Panthers seem to put together all the right pieces. Like the sun in the eastern sky, hope just keeps growing.
2013. Hopes finally materialize, but not fully. While the Panthers finish 12-4 and win their division and a playoff bye, they lose their playoff game to the 49ers. However, the naysayers can't squelch the growing tide.
2014. The team is a very disappointing 3-8-1 after 12 games (due in part to a 7-game losing streak), however, a 4-game winning streak ending the season secures a repeat of the NFC South Division title.
The Panthers finally win a playoff game by defeating the Cardinals in the Wild Card Round to advance to the divisional playoffs, but there they lose to the Seahawks.
2015. The team wins 14 straight games and talk of an undefeated season rings through the airwaves. While eventually losing to the Falcons, they finish 15-1 and win a third NFC South Division title.
Brimming with confidence and flushed with momentum going into the playoffs, they defeat the Seahawks and then the Cardinals to advance to Super Bowl 50 against the Broncos.
Super Bowl. Disappointingly, the Broncos’ #1 defense dominates the Panthers’ #1 offense with the Panthers eventually losing 24-10. The year that is supposed to be isn’t.
2016. The Panthers fall to 6-10, missing the playoffs, and deeper disappointment ensues.
2017. Bouncing back, the Panthers finish 11-5 and make the playoffs, and then lose to the Saints in the Wild Card round.
2018. What???? They start a hopeful 6-2 but go on a 7-game losing streak before defeating their archrival Saints to end the season 7-9.
2019. Many of the players from those earlier years are gone, but not Cam Newton and Luke Kuechly. There is talk of hope again because Cam’s shoulder appears healthy...and because Luke looks like he's really back.
There is also hope because of dynamic running back, Christian McCaffrey...second-year receiver, D.J. Moore...and Brian Burns, a rookie defender who can wreak havoc on quarterbacks.
Why look back? Because of what we can learn about hope.
As I've ridden this 8-year rollercoaster with thousands of other Panthers fans, I see how much we want to hope. We want our dreams realized, our longings fulfilled, and our desires satisfied.
We not only want that hope with each new NFL season but with our own seasons of life. We need hope to fuel us and give us energy and passion when experiencing new things like a job or a relationship or a place to live.
Unfortunately, we quickly find out that hope is often unfulfilling. Even if the Panthers one day win that elusive Super Bowl, the satisfaction and joy are only short-lived. Another season will come along and players will move to other teams, and fans will be left hoping again.
Although we have short-term fulfillment of hope in our own lives, God intended for the one true hope to be found in Jesus Christ. Because of His Son's work on the cross, we have been given the gift of an eternal kingdom...where one day our hopes will be satisfied beyond our wildest dreams.
Titus 3:4-7 explains, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
Until that day, we can live knowing that Jesus is presently at work in, among, and through His followers...bringing us satisfaction as we go forward in a world of disappointed dreams.
Today, let's trust God to give us the strength to keep pressing on and remember His promise that “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
I am Bob Schindler and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for providing me true hope and satisfaction because of Jesus. I pray I wouldn't remain discouraged by the disappointments in this life, but instead look toward eternity with profound hope. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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