NBA Ref Explains How God Uses Adversity
By Movieguide® Contributor
Pat Frahar has officiated over 1,300 games in the NBA. Eighty-seven of those games were in the playoffs and include the 2020 NBA Finals, 2021 NBA Finals and the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals.
Through his time as an NBA ref, Frahar’s faith grew.
“It’s matured,” he told Jason Romano on Sports Spectrum’s podcast. “So, the last time we spoke over four years ago, it was kind of more about the transition or transformation, if you want to call it. It was exciting. Now, I would say He’s trying to teach me patience. I’m realizing His presence through both the good and the bad, so the adversity sometimes lets you know that He’s there as well.”
Adversity is something that can “define us or refine us.” Frahar uses the adversity he faces to refine his relationship with the Lord.
“I don’t just want to praise Him when things are good. I’ve realized that everything else, when you break it down, can be taken away from you except your faith, and ultimately, in the end, that’s all you’re going to have,” he said.
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Frahar also uses his faith to impact how he does his job as an NBA referee.
“Everything starts with perspective,” Frahar said. “Do you have an Earthly perspective, or do you have an internal perspective? Some people don’t believe in eternity. It’s a difficult concept to wrap our minds around, but if you do, then if there is anything more important than securing that, and I haven’t found anything more important.
“Once you have an eternal perspective, guess what? Everything on this planet and in this life is temporary, so all your achievements, all your possessions, they’re all going to be taken away,” he added.
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