GOD IS AT WORK

Bible Study in my hotel room the night before the game.

Ministry can be a lonely place. There isn't always praise, a pat on the back, or a financial reward. But when God calls you, you can trust that He is always at work, even when you can't see it.

As many of you know, we played Florida State in an exhibition game in Birmingham a few nights ago. Did we play our best basketball? No. But DON’T PANIC! We have an incredible coaching staff and a great group of young men, and I have all the confidence we'll bounce back.  We are praying for our guys to get healthy and eligible, and we're believing for a great season ahead.

But here's what I want you to know: These young men are worth fighting for, believing in, and standing behind. They're not just talented basketball players or great kids. They're young men of faith who are growing, learning, and figuring out what it means to follow Christ in every area of their lives. And that's what makes this ministry so meaningful.

As believers, we're called to stand together through the highs and lows. Our faith doesn't depend on the scoreboard, our playing time, or whether things go according to plan. We stand together because of who Christ is.

And sometimes, God reminds us why we're here in the most unexpected ways.

The night before the game, during our team Bible study, I asked the guys these questions: How are you feeling about tomorrow's game? Are you anxious, curious, excited, or nervous? What personal challenges do you normally face during basketball season?

Maybe it's frustration over playing time, anger when things don't go your way, anxiety, negative thoughts, family struggles, or tension with a teammate. Whatever it looks like, we all face battles, both on and off the court. If we don't learn how to deal with them, those battles can affect our attitudes, our relationships, and even the way we play.

So how do we overcome them? Do we just try harder? Become mentally tougher? Simply tell ourselves to get over it?

We talked about those questions before opening God's Word and looking at the power we have through His Spirit living within us. We discussed how the enemy can use our thoughts, frustrations, and doubts to discourage us and pull us away from what God is doing in our lives.

At one point, I mentioned that maybe Satan had them questioning if they should even be here right now. 

I had no idea how much those words would matter to one of our players.

After the game, a player pulled me aside and shared something that absolutely encouraged me. He told me he had been undecided about attending Bible study the night before and had been wrestling with whether Auburn had even been the right choice for him. But when that statement came up, he immediately felt like God's Word was speaking directly to him. He left Bible study with a new perspective, recognizing that negative thoughts could be seeds planted by the enemy to get him off track.

Instead of continuing to question his decision, he walked away confident that he was exactly where God wanted him to be. And here's the beautiful part: he went out and played really well that night, too!

Ending our night in prayer.

But even more than his performance on the court, I was encouraged by what God had done in his heart. Sometimes, the greatest victories have nothing to do with the final score. Sometimes, the win is a young man choosing to hear God's Word, recognize the lies he's been believing, and walk away with renewed confidence in where God has placed him.

As a pastor, those are the moments that keep you going. You don't always hear the stories. You don't always know whether the conversations, prayers, and hours spent pouring into others are making a difference. You simply remain faithful and trust God with the results.

Then, every once in a while, He lets you see a glimpse of what He's doing.

And that's a win worth celebrating!

These are the moments that remind me why ministry matters. We're not just investing in basketball players, but in young men who are learning to trust God and walk in faith. Thank you for being a ministry partner and supporting our family as we invest in these young men and what God is doing in their lives.

I hope you are encouraged by today’s message.  Things won't always go our way, but God can use every challenge to strengthen us and draw us closer to Him. Keep showing up, keep trusting Him, and remember that God is at work, even when you can't see it.