The Buffalo Bills are one of the best teams in the NFL and they have one of the most dynamic quarterbacks, Josh Allen, leading their offense. However, they have now lost two games in a row, and Allen threw two interceptions in each of those games, along with fumbling the ball toward the end of regulation on Sunday against the Vikings.

We know Allen is suffering from an elbow injury, but this is his evaluation of his recent struggles with turnovers:

“Decision-making is No. 1, trusting the game plan, trusting the guys around me, and trying not to do too much. It’s not hard to try to tweak that mindset of trusting the other guys around me, taking the check-down when it’s there, and just making the smart play.”

He also added, “I can make a play or I can trust somebody else to make a play that I’ve battled with my entire football career, and trying to do too much sometimes. It’ll hurt you.”

As dangerous as he is as a passer and a runner, he has to cut down on his turnovers because he leads the league with ten interceptions. He’s capable of doing so much on the field, but he’s wise to realize he’s trying to do too much.

When it comes to our own lives, are we willing to admit that many of the “interceptions” or issues and struggles we’re dealing with are a result of us trying to do too much?

Are we trying to force things?

Are we putting too much pressure on ourselves?

Do we think everything is dependent on us to make something happen?

Do we realize we don’t have to do everything “on the field”?

Are we willing to “take the check-down when it’s there and just make the smart play”?

Today, I want to unpack three different ways that trying to do too much plays out in our lives.

The first thing is, we try to do too much because we don’t trust the people around us to share the load. We are unwilling to delegate to teammates and more importantly, afraid to ask others to help us carry the burdens we are facing in life.

However, Galatians 6:2 (AMP) tells us to “Carry one another’s burdens and in this way, you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].”

Attempting to carry our burdens alone leads to “turnovers” or stress and discouragement. For whatever reason, we choose to just do it ourselves, which can be our demise.

Also, if we’re honest with ourselves, when we try to do too much in life, it’s because we don’t trust that God is going to take care of us. We think that everything is up to us to deliver on and we’re the ones that have to make the big play all the time.

We can easily get caught up in our individual performance, relying on our own strength and abilities, instead of depending on the Lord and believing He’s the One who empowers us to do anything meaningful and significant.

Jesus says in John 15:5 (CSB) “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit because you can do nothing without me.”

Lastly, oftentimes in life, we just try to do too much when it comes to activity, work, and busyness resulting in too much on our plates. In the same way as doing too much on the football field, “it’ll hurt you” and we start turning the ball over. We get burned out, distracted, and less effective.

Thankfully, God wants us to rest physically and spiritually in Him. We must ask Him what we should say yes and no to. That way we can ensure we’re doing what He says is best for ourselves and our teammates, while also allowing proper rest.

We must be willing to step aside from the work, striving, and the daily grind, and trust Him to help us be okay when we don’t do everything and don’t fill our calendars morning to night.

As we’re told in Psalm 127:2 (NLT), “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones.”

This time of year, the temptation to try and do too much is very intense, but let’s be encouraged to trust God, trust our teammates, and rest both physically and spiritually because, thankfully, it’s not just up to us to make a big play every time.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the ways You empower and strengthen me to do Your work. Help me to know when to rest and help me be aware of the times I’m trying to do too much. I pray I’d trust You more and trust the people around me to help carry the load. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.