God, the Author

Ready

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” -- 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, NLT

Set

“You don’t deserve to play in the WNBA.” Sitting on the bench game after game, I began to believe the reckless words of that coach.

As I got passed off from coach to coach, I began to believe the words that they would mutter, and I would see my lack of playing time as confirmation that I did not deserve to be in the WNBA. Then the Phoenix Mercury GM said to me, “You’re a great player, Williams--just be patient.” I was consistently one of the players who had to do conditioning after the games because I did not reach the required playing time quota. I struggled to rise to the top of my game.

If anyone had told me I would make the All-Star team the very next year, I would have laughed. How could I go from not seeing the hardwood for games at a time, to being chosen to represent the West Coast? How could that happen? I would have never chosen to write my story that way, but God did.

People often talk about the endurance needed to be a top-notch athlete and the stamina and relentlessness needed to pursue, attain and maintain a sports goal. Whether we choose to coach or play at the highest level, we will have to face challenges and setbacks along the way. We will have to endure, overcome and relentlessly pursue to attain our goals. I wonder how I would have felt, however, if I had known while I sat on the bench or when I heard people talk about trading me, that I would be an all-star. Would I have practiced and lived with an expectation of what’s to come?

Remember that God is the ultimate author of your life. Trust and lean on Him.

Go

• How would you respond in a difficult time, if you knew the outcome was already decided in your favor?
• Does a coach, opponent, fan or naysayer’s opinion of you change who you are?
• Can you recall times when you thought it would turn out one way, and it worked out completely different?

Workout

John 10:28; Daniel 10:19; Philippians 1:6

Overtime

“Dear Lord, as we deal with difficulties within or surrounding our lives, we seek You. You are the lifter of our heads, and we rest in the assurance that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Amen.”

Author Bio

After playing for eight seasons, Adrian Williams-Strong retired from the WNBA in 2009 and has served as co-chaplain/guest speaker for the Phoenix Mercury since 2011. She currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her beloved children Tre (11) and Aria (8) who are the apple of her eye.