I have thoroughly enjoyed this year’s men’s NCAA Tournament. On Saturday night, we got to watch another thrilling moment as San Diego State’s Lamont Butler knocked down a game-winner at the buzzer to send the Aztecs to the National Championship game. Many people were pulling for FAU as they controlled much of the game, but San Diego State kept hanging on. In the closing seconds, they were down by one with a chance to win the game on the final play and they took full advantage. Once Butler received the ball from his teammate after FAU’s missed shot, he dribbled up the court determined to take the final shot. Despite the tough defense and the time winding down, he made a great move, got the ball off in time, and hit nothing but net! It was the type of shot players dream of taking and any one of us who has played basketball has practiced shooting a similar game-winning shot in our driveway. However, when the moment arrives, not every player is willing to take that shot, especially on a stage like the Final Four. Even throughout this tournament, players were scared and avoided the shot by passing it up or hesitating to take the shot and time expired. Some players are unwilling to shoot it because they fear missing it, or they’re afraid of the pressure. Butler, on the other hand, was confident, poised, and willing to take the game-winning shot, and will now forever be recognized as a March Madness legend. Teammate Darrion Trammell, said this about Butler: “It was nothing new to him. He wasn’t scared of the moment. He got right to his spot and he does what he does.” Butler rose to the occasion and didn’t allow fear to be a hindrance in helping his team beat FAU and move on to the National Championship tonight. As you and I begin another week, are we like Butler and not “scared of the moment” or are we allowing fear to be a hindrance in our lives? If we’re honest, we all have dreams, goals, and desires, but unfortunately, we often let fear hold us back from pursuing what God has called us to do. Many of us have opportunities to “take the shot,” yet we avoid it and pass it up because we’re afraid. Others of us need to “get a shot off,” but hesitate and procrastinate and the time to go for it expires. Fear takes many different forms and impacts multiple areas of our lives if we let it. However, if we're followers of Jesus, seeking to do His will and relying on His strength, there's nothing to fear. God’s desire is for us to be unafraid and to trust in Him. He tells Joshua in Joshua 1:9 (ESV), “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” In describing the righteous, Psalm 112:7-8 (NLT) says, “They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.” There are “game-winning shots” available to us, but we can’t be scared to take them. Today, we need to identify the fears we're carrying with us that prevent us from rising to the occasion. We need to let go of them by trusting the Lord and placing our faith in Him. We can be encouraged by Psalm 34:4 (NLT), where David tells us, “I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” We can also declare Psalm 56:3-4 (ESV): “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. In God, whose Word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” Along the way, we won’t hit every shot, but as they say, we’ll miss everyone we don’t take. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I admit that fear holds me back all too often. I know You've called me to do important things with You and my fear prevents me from going for it. I pray that when I am afraid, I put my trust in You. Please free me from all of my fears. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:
1. How is fear holding you back from taking an important "shot"?
2. What fears has God previously freed you from?
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