The NCAA’s Division I Baseball Committee eliminated North Carolina State because of COVID-19 protocols from the 2021 College World Series. With only 13 players, NC suffered a 3-1 loss against Vanderbilt on Friday (14 players had tested COVID positive). The teams were scheduled to play again on Saturday with a winner-take-all. NC’s minute forced drop-out was the decision of the Medical Team and the County Health Department. “This is a heartbreaking situation, and I’m gutted for everyone involved and for all those that were captivated by the heart and fight of this team,” said head coach Elliot Avent. It was expected that NC State fans and players would feel they were mistreated. Even Nebraska Gov. Pete Rickets said the NCAA made a mistake in removing North Carolina State from the College World Series.

Ezra 5-6 – Sovereign Timing

There will be times when every coach, player, or fan will feel they have been treated unfairly. It might not cost them a chance to win the College World Series, but it will likely feel like a gut punch when it happens. However, as believers, we should rejoice in a God who directs the decrees of human kings regardless of the outcome. After over a decade, the temple’s construction had finally resumed, as described in Ezra.

While the Jews had much to rejoice about with the temple’s restoration, the timing of the circumstances was always in the hands of the Lord. It is God who “changes times and seasons; He sets up kings and deposes them” (Daniel 2:21).

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete trust in God’s plans even when it’s hard to understand. While they realize it’s not wrong to ask questions when things go wrong, they do so in a spirit of humility, without doubting God’s goodness or the quality of His plan.

Bible Memory Verse – “For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” Ezra 7:10  (LSB)