UNPACK This...Being a Good Teammate in Lifeಮಾದರಿ

Difficult Conversations Lead To Winning

12-seed McNeese State orchestrated the biggest upset of the first day of the 2025 NCAA Tournament by beating 5-seed Clemson 69-67.

Heading into the Big Dance, some people questioned the Cowboys' ability to pull off the upset since their head coach, Will Wade, had already accepted the vacant head coaching position at NC State.

Rather than attempting to conceal what was happening, Wade elected to be open and forthright with his team, trusting that his open communication would pay off.

And looking at senior forward Christian Shumate's comments after the contest, we can see how Wade's approach was successful.

Shumate said, "When you're in the loop, and both ends are transparent about things, there's not too much room for conflict. There's a clear understanding."

In life, we have all encountered situations where being open and honest in communication with another person can be uncomfortable.

As followers of Jesus, however, we must embrace that difficult conversations are necessary to experience winning in our relationships.

Of course, some of the most challenging conversations we will engage in stem from sin.

When another believer sins against us, Jesus commands us to approach that person and lovingly call them to repent.

In Matthew 18:15 (ESV), Jesus said, "'If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.'"

Although this can be difficult for us because we don't enjoy confrontation, we must remember that love for our brother or sister in Christ necessitates confronting them in their sin, as it is ultimately for their good.

Proverbs 27:6 (NASB) says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy."

We can have difficult conversations with others because our confrontation intends to be restorative, not punitive. We desire the person to turn from their sin so they might walk more faithfully on God's path.

Today, let's be willing to have difficult conversations around sin so that we might open the door for more "winning" in our relationships.

I'm Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me be bold when having difficult conversations with others. Show me how and when to discuss things, and allow me to speak with a humble heart. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.