Purpose in Trials: Gators Guard Leans on This Bible Book in Hard Times

Published: April 27, 2026

By Mallory Mattingly

Florida Gators guard Isaiah Brown learned an important lesson from the book of Job.

“There’s going to be a lot of situations and a lot of circumstances that just seem like God is trying you. God is like, ‘Nah, like you’re gonna go through this,'” Brown said in a new episode of “The Walk” podcast.

Speaking with a local pastor about the book of Job gave the athlete more insight into these moments.

“We went through the story of Job, and one thing that he brought up was just like how comfortable Satan was to have these conversations with God, basically able to go up to Him and just ask for permission to just, like, torture Job, and just put him through all these trials,” the guard reflected. “Just basically test his faith to see if he will turn on God.”

“He said one thing that kind of, like, stood out to me was just basically, God will put you through trials, and you wouldn’t even know,” Brown said. “God will give the devil permission to put you through something, because God is giving you the opportunity to lean on Him more in that moment.”

Faith takes the top spot in Brown’s life.

He often posts faith references and Bible verses in his Instagram captions.

“He the only way,” he wrote alongside a video of highlights from the season.

“1 Corinthians 9:24-27,” he posted in March along with the hashtag #AO1 or “audience of one.”

Last year, before the Gators won the NCAA Men’s Basketball National Championship Tournament, Brown explained why he tattooed Mark 9:23 on his wrist.

The verse reads: “Everything is possible for the one who believes.”

“At first I told myself I’m not getting any tattoos. I don’t want to ink my body up because, you know, it’s going to be there forever,” Brown said on “The Walk” in 2025. “Juggling basketball and academics at a college level – high school is way different. This is like way different. Like I have to be there 24/7 for basketball, and at the same time, I have to keep up with school. It’s difficult.”

“So, I got this as motivation that whatever I put my mind to I basically accomplish,” he continued. “So, I got this as a reminder to never forget that I can do anything if I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.”