This Thursday at 12:15 PM is when the first round of the NCAA tournament tips off! All of us have to have our picks decided by then, as we turn in our March Madness brackets. (Join our challenge here)
While having fun filling out our brackets (taking a look at each matchup, and determining who we think will win the game), we’re actually deciding which team we trust more.
Do we trust the veteran team more than the highly talented team?
Do we trust the head coach we’re more familiar with, more than the young up-and-coming head coach?
Do we trust the team that has a top NBA prospect more than the team that made a deep run in the tournament last year?
Do we trust the team with the better seed more than the team attempting the upset?
Do we trust the team that has better 3-point shooting more than the team that has the size?
Do we trust the teams from a specific conference more than another conference?
Do we trust the teams playing closer to home more than the teams having to travel?
Each time we select a team on our bracket, we’re indicating that we trust that team more than the other. We can say we trust a certain team when we’re talking with other fans, but the action we take when we choose them on the bracket reveals where we’re actually placing our trust.
Today, let’s unpack how this parallels our own lives. As followers of Jesus, we have placed our faith in Jesus and trust Him for salvation, and know that our eternal destination is secure in Him.
As we journey through our time here on earth, each day we face opportunity after opportunity (“matchup” after “matchup”) to also trust God in everything that takes place. Each day our actions, emotions, responses, and mindsets indicate where we’re placing our trust.
The question for us to consider is who or what do we trust in more when it comes to facing decisions, obstacles, temptations, and challenging circumstances?
Let’s be honest with ourselves. When these types of things arise, do we…
Trust God’s strength more than our strength?
Trust God’s power more than our ability to try and control the outcome?
Trust God’s wisdom more than our limited understanding?
Trust God’s timing more than our eagerness to speed up the process and try and force things to happen quickly?
God is trustworthy, yet all too often we take our eyes off Him and trust in something more than Him. When we do, we’re filled with worry, fear, anger, and disappointment. That’s why we have to remember the following verses:
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3; ESV).
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You” (Psalm 56:3; ESV).
“The fear of mankind is a snare, but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected” (Proverbs 29:25; CSB).
We have to choose to trust God and His goodness, faithfulness, provision, and protection more than we trust in our own ability to figure things out and to muster up enough strength, effort, and intelligence.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP) encourages us to “Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart And do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].”
We also have to choose to trust God’s plans, love, grace, omniscience, and omnipotence more than we trust the government, our bank account, our own strategies, and the world’s answers.
Psalm 118:8 (ESV) tells us, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.”
Ultimately, when we face important decisions and encounter “difficult matchups” on our “bracket,” we know that trusting in God more than anything or anyone is always the winning choice.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for trusting in myself and other things more than You. I know that when I trust You with all of my heart, You lead me on the best path. Thank you for the peace You give me when my mind is fixed on You. Please help me not to forget that You are trustworthy and always reliable. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
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What do you find yourself trusting in more than God?
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What feelings and mindsets pop up that indicate you aren’t trusting God more than anything?
