Week 50 | Kemba

I think we have all had experiences where we felt like we were done wrong and/or didn't get something we deserved. There has been a team we feel like we should have made that we didn't, a starting spot we felt like we deserved but we didn't get, and there are awards that we felt like we earned but were given to someone else.

Kemba Walker went from being the starting point guard for the New York Knicks to the very end of the bench - overnight. He has had a wonderful career, and he is from New York City, so the entire city was excited to have the hometown kid come back and lead their franchise.

But he hasn't been playing great, and his head coach not only took him out of the starting lineup, but took him completely out of the rotation. That meant, he went from starting to not playing at all!

But through all of that adversity, he never pouted and he never quit. He kept a positive attitude, he kept working hard, and when his time came, he was ready. 

Kemba is now back in the starting lineup and playing good basketball, including a Christmas Day Triple-Double.

Some people find problems, while others find solutions.

When asked about his return after the game, Kemba said:

"God just works in mysterious ways, man. He's blessed me, he's helped me stay humble, grounded, and he just got me through a tough situation. I just continued to work, and time goes on and guys go down, and I'm back. First game against my old team, I'm back in the starting lineup, and the rest is history from there.

"Everything happens for a reason."

Trials and tribulations are a part of life. Injuries, being cut, and being benched are real trials that almost all of us face. Those trials don't end with sports. Getting fired, missing out on promotions, and not getting certain jobs are realistic realities outside of sports.

There are many Biblical stories of people who have faced great trials and adversity, and one of my favorites is the story of David.

Many know David as the boy who took down Goliath. He became a favorite of the first king of Israel, Saul, and his son, Jonathon, but Saul became paranoid that David was going to take his throne, and attempted to kill David, forcing David into hiding for years. Saul and Jonathon were eventually killed in a battle against the Philistines, and David was announced the king over Israel and Judah, and he eventually conquered the city of Jerusalem, he made it Israel’s capital and he brought the Ark of the Covenant into the city.

Kemba and David were both blessed and highly favored, lost their favor, and regained it.

Adversity and storms are a part of the human experience, and it is a part of the Christian experience as well. “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Tim 3:12).”  “Do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you (1 Pet 4:12-14).”

Keep working hard so when your time comes, you are ready. Know that trials, tribulations, and adversity are a part of the journey, and put your trust in God knowing that all things work together for the good of those who believe (Romans 8:28).

This Week:

1 - Know that trials and adversity are coming. When it hits, thank God, because suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope (Romans 5:3-5).

2 - Be a leader. You know that trials and adversity are coming. Find ways to help motivate, inspire, and serve others so that they can grow through their trials.

3 - Pray: Our Father, thank you for your leadership, your blessings, and your grace. I know that trials and tribulations are a part of the human experience. I also know that trials and tribulations help me grow stronger as a person, and they help me grow closer to you. As I go through difficult situations, please help me to call on you and lean on you first because I know that you will help me through anything and everything. In Jesus's name I pray - amen.

You can find a Google doc version of this here: Week 50 | Kemba