Faith@First - January 10, 2025
When I’m not at church, you’ll most likely find me on a sideline. With three active children, I’ve spent countless hours watching them play. But this week, from the sideline of a basketball court, I felt a pride deeper than any other winning game.
A few weeks ago, my son Joshua tried out for his middle school basketball team. Though he’s a competitive travel soccer player, he wanted to pick up basketball this winter too. Despite his effort, he didn’t make the team. Picking him up from tryouts, my husband described his disappointment as one of the hardest moments he’s had as a parent.
But what Joshua did next made all the difference. That same night, he asked me to find another place for him to play basketball. He didn’t give up or make excuses. Instead, he chose to develop his skills and keep pursuing his goal. This week, I watched him step onto the court with a new team. His determination reminded me that real leaders are always developing.
Whether in sports, life, or faith, champions aren’t born—they are made through persistence, practice, and a willingness to keep going, even after failure. Joshua may or may not make the team in the future, but in my eyes, he’s already won. He’s learned that success isn’t about perfection—it’s about perseverance. This is the heart God calls us to have as leaders: one that keeps growing, developing and trusting in every season.
This month, we’ll explore this idea in our sermon series, Follow the Leader: Spiritual Lessons for Every Leader. It’s game on as we learn from biblical leaders who developed through life’s challenges and grew into faithful leaders I hope you’ll join us, as we keep learning, growing and leading together.
Keep the Faith @ First,
Pastor Nicole
