The changing of seasons is always difficult, and I’m not just talking about the weather in Lubbock, Texas. If you live anywhere around my hometown, you literally feel springtime blowing in! If you live in a small town, you may feel the rush of changing from one sports season to another.
My son had an amazing season playing football for his dad. He earned ALL-STATE honors as a sophomore. He finished football season in early December and went straight into basketball. There was no time to process the agony of defeat in the playoffs or the joy of a historic season.
He didn’t want to play basketball, but his dad and I “forced” him to do it. His lack of joy was apparent, but I loved the times when his defense was strong on the court, and his smile was shining on the bench.
He was second string and backed up one of the top players on the team. I watched him grow as a player and young man. Even with a broken nose late in the season, his fight and determination were inspiring. I haven’t told him this, but his season was a lesson for me.
We all love the idea of being first string, the leader, and maybe even all-state. But what about the next guy up? The one who shows up every day and makes everyone else work a little bit harder, yet doesn’t get the spotlight?
I’ve been in both positions – the all-star and the back-up.
We’ve all been there in some area of our lives, and sometimes, like my son, we go straight from first string to back-up without time to process what is happening in life. Either way, God has us right where he wants us.
We are either basking in the glory of the spotlight, or we’re waiting in the background for our next time to shine. When we’re not on the starting roster, we’re often in a season of preparation for something amazing.
It’s this place of waiting where we can learn teamwork, humility, and grit.
My favorite moments of this basketball season were watching my son stand up off the bench and yell for his teammates. His energy makes him a good leader, whether he’s playing or sitting.
The preparation can be sweeter than the spotlight. Coaches often use the phrase “trust the process” with their athletes. What if we let that play out in our lives? The Bible tells us, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10).
When we’re willing to sit on the bench or stand on the sidelines and cheer on those ahead of us, God is shaping us for what He has prepared for us. We can’t skip any steps in the process.
Just like I told my son to go make his teammates better, I can sit in rooms where I’m not the best and still give my best. I can surround myself with people who challenge me. I can be willing to let God use every season to develop the skills and mindset I will need to work through the process.
My time will come in His perfect timing, and you bet I’ll be ready to step into my purpose. I’ll be cheering you on, my friend, whether I’m on the bench or in the game with you.
Let’s step into our purpose and enjoy every step of the process.