The Hire Nobody Expected

In 2014, the Memphis Grizzlies needed a new video coordinator — an entry-level position buried deep in the organization chart. Hundreds of polished resumes arrived from Ivy League sports management graduates and former Division I athletes. But head coach Dave Joerger kept returning to one application from a community college assistant in small-town Iowa who had never set foot in an NBA arena. The candidate had no connections, no pedigree, no highlight reel. What he had was a relentless film study habit, a gift for spotting defensive patterns others missed, and recommendation letters that all said the same thing: this man sees what nobody else sees.

They hired him. Within three years, he was a lead assistant.

Jesse lined up his sons like polished resumes — tall Eliab, battle-ready Abinadab, impressive Shammah. Seven sons paraded before Samuel, and seven times the Lord said no. Then came the question that changed history: "Are these all the sons you have?" The one nobody thought to invite was out in the pasture, smelling like sheep and sunshine, with ruddy cheeks and calloused hands.

God told Samuel, "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."

The Almighty has always been in the business of bypassing the obvious candidate to tap the overlooked one. He is not scanning your resume. He is searching your heart.