Yesterday was a big day in the NFL as two major quarterback decisions were made.
Aaron Rodgers announced that he’s staying in Green Bay and remaining their starting quarterback for the 2022 season. After wrestling with his future and considering his options to leave or return, he chose to continue playing for the Packers.
Meanwhile, Russell Wilson is leaving the Seattle Seahawks after being traded to the Denver Broncos (based on his approval) for three players and multiple draft picks.
Last season there were rumblings that he wanted to play somewhere else, but it took until yesterday for Wilson to move on from the team that drafted him and where he won a Super Bowl.
With good reasons to go in either direction, both of these players could have stayed or left and they each did something different than the other.
Interestingly, in sports and life, sometimes the right decision is to return and stay…and sometimes the best move is to leave and go somewhere else.
It can be challenging to know which choice we should make because the answer isn’t always staying and the answer isn’t always leaving. Each situation has many factors, including the right timing of how long to remain and when exactly to go.
For many of us, we may be wrestling with whether or not it’s time to leave a job or church or neighborhood, or city. We are wondering, is God asking us to remain somewhere a little longer? Is He making it clear that now is the time to go somewhere else?
The key for us as followers of Jesus is to rely on God to help us make the right decision according to what He’s leading us to do. He may indicate that we need to stay put for now or He may prompt us to make a move and take a step of faith toward something new. Either way, we surrender to His will and trust Him for guidance.
Psalm 32:8 (NLT) tells us, “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'”
When we are wrestling with what to do and trying to decide between remaining or departing, James 1:5 (AMP) gives us this encouragement: “If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.”
God will provide us the wisdom we need to make the right decision about staying or leaving. We just have to ask Him and then listen and obey.
Just like in the NFL, sometimes a player should leave, and sometimes it’s more beneficial for him to stay.
Jesus gives us two examples in the Bible about leaving and staying that offer us further encouragement today.
There was a time for Jesus to remain on earth to accomplish His purpose for being here, but then it came time for Him to leave for Heaven.
In John 16:7 (AMP) Jesus says, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].”
While Jesus was leaving, He instructed His followers to remain. He says in Luke 24:49 (AMP), “’Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit] upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.’”
Sometimes, God, has us wait to be more equipped and other times He’s clear it’s time to move on. Thankfully, in either case, we are given the Holy Spirit to help us know the difference.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for being my guide and revealing the next steps You want me to take in life. I pray I would trust the Holy Spirit’s promptings to know what direction is best. Thank you for working in me when I remain and giving me strength when I need to leave. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
- What situations have you wrestled with leaving or staying?
- How has God made it clear to you whether you should stay or go?
