Bounce Back and Win

I loved watching our ACYOA youth play basketball last weekend in Detroit during our annual General Assembly and Sports Weekend. Sitting in the stands, cheering them on, I kept thinking—life really is a lot like that game. You’re running back and forth, doing your best to stay in motion, trying to make each play count, trying to stay in the game.

Sometimes, you're ahead. Everything’s falling into place, people are cheering you on, and opportunities are opening up. But then there are other times when you miss the shot, when the ball gets stolen, when you feel like you’ve been benched by life.

Maybe today you’re in the second half and you're behind on the scoreboard. You feel like the clock is running out, and you wonder if you’re ever going to catch up. But remember, God is the Coach who never gives up on His players. He’s not anxious or uncertain—He knows the strategy. He knows your strengths, your potential, and He already knows the final score.

It’s not the bounce of the ball that determines the outcome—it’s the hand that guides it. Your life is in God’s hands, and here’s the good news: just like a basketball, every time you hit the ground, you don’t stay down. You bounce back. That’s what God’s grace does—it lifts you up, restores you, and puts you back in the game.

Even the greatest players miss shots. Michael Jordan once said, “I’ve missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” You don’t have to make every shot. You just need to keep shooting, keep trying, keep believing. God doesn’t expect perfection—He honors persistence.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” That’s your promise. You’re going to reap, you’re going to win, but you’ve got to stay in the game.

So keep your head up and keep dribbling. The court belongs to the King, and you’re on His team. Don’t let the scoreboard fool you. Get ready to bounce back. Get ready to win big. Because with God on your side… you’re going to slam dunk your purpose.