This week’s theme is God is always at work around you. 

As I write this, a very famous college basketball tournament is in its final stages. To avoid trademark infringement, let’s call it “March Mania.” You know the one. Watching the games reminds me of my young days as an aspiring basketball star (spoiler alert: not all aspirations are inspirations).

My favorite part of middle-school basketball practice was free-throw shooting. Coaches teach that when shooting a free-throw, players should have a routine they follow every single time, until muscle memory is such that it’s harder to miss the shot than make it. The same goes for any controlled, repetitive sports motion, like a golf swing or field goal kicking. 

Elite athletes are of course physically gifted, but they work very hard. They spend hours practicing, studying game film, and working out, all to improve their performance. 

As Christians, we should approach our faith with the same level of dedication and work ethic. We have important examples: But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” (John 5:17 HCSB)

I must confess, my free-throw routine was more consistent than my prayer time or Bible study time. On the plus side, my family’s Sunday morning routine is such that unless we’re sick or out of town, you don’t have to wonder if we’re coming to church or will be on time. It’s automatic.

Athletes who are consistent in their approach to the game are usually the ones who achieve the greatest success. We should mirror this in our Christian walk, striving to be consistent in our faith, always working to deepen our relationship with God.

But even with hard work and consistency, we will face challenges and setbacks. Athletes face injuries, losing streaks, and even many good shots don’t go in the basket. In our difficult moments, it's important to remember that we are not alone. Just as athletes have coaches, trainers, and teammates to support them, we, of course, have God and our church family to lift us up.

God’s always working, so what’s stopping us?

By Mark Stuart