Blind Faith

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1, NIV).

The University of Kentucky recently hired Mark Pope as their new men’s basketball coach. He had to assemble an entirely new roster, which means every player on the team next year will be new, but the expectations remain the same. The ugly truth about being a Kentucky men’s basketball fan: we put our hopes into winning the national championship every single year.

I say ugly truth, because, despite any indications that the roster may not measure up in terms of talent or cohesiveness, we don’t adjust our expectations. As Mark Pope has said, and knows from his time as a player at UK, it’s national championship or bust for Kentucky fans.

There are currently 13 players on the roster, none of whom have ever played together, yet, I am still anxiously anticipating the first game. I guess that’s what you might call blind faith, right?

Faith, as defined biblically in Hebrews 11:1, is, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”

Growing up and learning to bleed blue creates a level of faith that can be a little unrealistic, and often, unsupported by proper evidence. That’s how I would describe myself as a Kentucky basketball fan, but is that truth just as foundational in my life as a follower of Jesus?

It’s easy for me to put my hope in the success of a bunch of young men on a basketball court, but a question I need to face frequently is this: Do I put that same level of hope into believing God to fulfill the desires of my heart?

The Kentucky men’s basketball program has been in existence since 19031. Some quick math reveals that this past season was the 121st as a program, and we have won 8 national championships. Further calculations show that we have won the national championship at a rate of .06%. Pretty mind boggling when I look at the numbers.

The Son of God was actively in ministry for three years, and the Gospels recorded at least 37 miracles2. That’s a pretty high incidence rate. Jesus, through His disciples and the Holy Spirit, has been performing miracles for over 2000 years, yet I still find myself questioning His timing and ways. And I’d be willing to be I’m not the only one.

Despite the calculations, I will continue to put my hope into winning a national championship every year. However, I want to be more intentional to lean into Jesus, entrust the desires of my heart to Him, and put my eternal hope in Him.

1. “Kentucky Wildcats Men’s Basketball.” Wikipedia, May 28, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kentucky_Wildcats_men%27s_basketball. 

2. Alan_W. “The 37 Miracles of Jesus in Chronological Order.” Wytheville, VA. Accessed May 31, 2024. https://sunnyhillschurch.com/3301/the-37-miracles-of-jesus-in-chronological-order/. 

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