Written by: Tommy Murr

What have I learned from the game of basketball? Looking back at my basketball career up to this point, it's incredible to think about all the ways God has blessed me, molded me, and taught me great lessons.. The lessons I have taken from basketball are ones that I will carry with me forever. 
 
Coming into my freshmen year, I brought high hopes and great expectations for what was ahead. Long story short, those hopes were derailed by the pandemic. I missed a decent portion of the season in quarantine and by the time I returned, it was far too late to earn the playing time I had hoped for. This brought a great deal of frustration and disappointment into my life. When the hope and purpose from basketball, in a sense, was stripped from me and I began watching most of our games from the bench, God really started to shift my perspective. This was a time in my life where I really had to dig deep and identify where I was putting my hope, trust, and identity as a human being. This experience brought me a greater perspective, taught me contentment, and strengthened my walk with the Lord. 
 
Through the ups and downs of this human game, God continuously reminds me that one thing remains, and only one thing is constant and consistent - the love of God. When all else fails, when all my human hopes fail, I am always left realizing that putting my hope in anything outside of my identity in Christ will disappoint. Through the game, God has taught me resilience and patience - I have learned many times how sweet it is to wait on God's perfect timing and trust His sovereign plan. God is on our side and He is for us. Everything He does is deeply intentional and in our favor. Blessings can often be disguised as storms, dealt with properly and they can produce immense growth in our faith and character.