This year our women’s Bible Study group studied the book of Acts. As we finished the book, the steadiness of Paul in all circumstances impressed and challenged me. Through injustice and persecution, Paul pressed on. In prison and out of it, in balmy winds and hurricanes, in civic centers and courtrooms, he continued to testify to the grace of God. What buoyed his spirits?

As a University of Virginia alum and basketball fan, I’ve followed the career of our Head Coach Tony Bennett. In March 2018, his team – our team – made history as the first #1-seed ever to lose to a 16th-seeded team in the NCAA tournament. It was painful. For the fans, yes, but mostly for the players and staff who had worked so hard and faced high expectations. And over the course of the next year, many naysayers - from sports analysts to opposing teams - piled on the humiliation, criticism and endless reminders of that loss.

What do you say to these young players and a watching world? How do you cope in these situations and become better not bitter? A public figure and a leader of young men, Tony had to articulate a response. Here are his words, words that encourage me in the storms of life and are worth passing along. He made this statement at a press conference just prior to 2019 March Madness tipping off when a reporter asked about his “incredible calm” during tough moments.

You certainly feel things, things bother you, but where does peace and perspective come from? And I always tell our guys, it’s gotta be something that is unconditional. And I know I have that in the love of my family. Unconditional love and acceptance – that’s huge. And I know I have that in my faith in Christ. That’s, for me, where I draw my strength from, my peace, my steadiness in the midst of things. But of course you feel things, of course you desperately want things to go well. And it’s frustrating when you’re not. And you step back and look at it. But I always challenge our guys: what’s your secret of contentment? What’s your secret of contentment? Because there’s gonna be times, it talks about, you’re gonna be well fed and living in plenty and there’s gonna be times you’re starving and living in want. What’s your secret of handling that? And I know, without a doubt, and those of you who have parents or kids, the love you give them unconditionally or if your faith is there, that has to buoy you, that has to be your center. And you dwell on what is good, because there is a bigger picture to all this. And I believe I understand that, so, you know, going through those refining moments, whew, they’re tough. But you look back at them; in a way they’re sometimes painful gifts that draw you nearer to what truly matters.

If you follow NCAA men’s basketball, then you know Coach Bennett and our team experienced a dramatically different set of circumstances during the 2019 tournament. From ignominy to exhilaration. What will keep us all steady during the vicissitudes of life? I hope you have the buoyant love of family and friends. Even so, the one unchangeable, steadiest love humans can know is found in God the Father through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul knew firsthand the ups and downs of life. He wrote to Roman believers:

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

Let’s pray for ourselves and those God brings to mind that we will seek and know this empowering love of the One who did not spare His own Son.