How Jonathan Isaac Trusted God Amid Injuries: ‘Grateful’
By Movieguide® Contributor
In an interview with Sports Spectrum, Orlando Magic star Jonathan Isaac opened up about how he relied on God to get back on the court after sitting out for over two years due to injuries.
Former ESPN producer Jason Romano asked Isaac, “What was God showing you in that return to the court? Knowing that you had this opportunity, I got to imagine there was an appreciation from the Lord that he was allowing you back on the court after being away for so long.”
“There’s so much there. Just working so hard to get back, trusting God through the process,” Isaac said. “The monotony of every single day. Am I going to be back this season? Am I going to be back in time? You know, we had some timelines that had to get pushed back, and so I was just like, ‘Oh man,’ you know, ‘How is this going to work out?’”
Isaac faced several disappointing delays in his career due to injury.
The Athletic reported that before his return in January 2023, “The 25-year-old Isaac last played in an NBA game on Aug. 2, 2020, in the NBA bubble, and tore his ACL. While missing the entire 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons rehabbing from the knee injury, he suffered a hamstring injury that required surgery.”
After a long recovery, “we get to the place where I’m like you know, ‘We’re ready. We’re gonna do this. Boston is the game,” he continued. “So you know I was ready to go. I knew I was going to be limited minutes, and I think what God was just telling me…just to trust Him.”
“It was just a lot,” he said of the pressure from his return.
“In that moment, it was just like, ‘God, I’m just gonna try my best to just stay focused on being grateful that I’m out here, trusting in you that you know my body and… [my] injuries in general. I’m okay. I can trust it and just let go,’” Isaac added.
Despite the setbacks, the NBA star has seen God’s plan through it all.
“Once I allowed God into my life, He started to direct and steer, and out all of these things that I had no idea were on the inside of me are coming out,” he explained. “I’m finding a creativity that I that I never knew that I had and, you know, a love for creation and words and all these different things, and you know being a being a speaker. I never in a million years would have thought I would be a speaker, and so God is good.”
God also guided the athlete to create the sports apparel brand UNITUS, “based on Faith, Family, & Freedom.”
“UNITUS is a community of people rallied around faith, family, freedom, and the pursuit of true greatness. Together, we rise above by working every day to be the best we can be, joyfully serving others with integrity, and standing for what’s right,” the website states.
Movieguide® previously reported on Isaac’s return:
Orlando Magic star Jonathan Isaac, and author of ‘Why I Stand,’ made his second NBA debut on Monday night after spending the past 2 and a half years sidelined due to injury…
“It felt fantastic,” Isaac said of his return to an NBA court. “Just to touch the floor, I feel so grateful. I know I wouldn’t be here without Christ. I know I wouldn’t be here without my faith, and I just feel so good…”
Isaac admitted to some nerves heading into his first game in over 900 days, but said he put his trust in God.
“Just all the adrenaline, all the excitement, I was just trying to kind of calm myself down [and] trust that God, He’s got me out here for a reason,” Isaac said.
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