After a laborious saga between quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, the two sides have reunited at training camp and begun their 2021 quest for a Super Bowl win.

For the last few months, we have heard story after story about whether or not Rodgers wanted to be traded, would be traded, would retire, or wouldn’t show up to camp. He made his frustrations known and seemed to think the Packers owed him more than what they were giving him.

After all of the ongoing media hype and fans watching every move and dissecting every comment Rodgers made, he’s putting on a Packers uniform this season.

At this point, it’s still fair to wonder if the controversial offseason was really worth it. Although Rodgers attempted to get everything he wanted, not much has changed for the upcoming season and he’s back under center in Green Bay.

The Packers did agree to rework part of his contract and made other concessions to appease their star quarterback, but in the end, they stood their ground by not trading him and proved that no one player is bigger than the franchise.

As Mike Florio from ProFootballTalk.com put it, “Make no mistake about it. Rodgers caved. Rodgers folded. Rodgers surrendered.”

This story reminds me of dinner last night when my almost-two-year-old daughter, Maddie, was demanding to eat chips – even though she already had a plate of food in front of her.

My wife and I allowed her to have some, but in the end, we stood our ground and told her that was all she could have. Thankfully, despite the initial whining, Maddie caved and realized who was ultimately in charge (Ha! Ha!).

You and I can be like Aaron Rodgers and Maddie when we make demands to God and attempt to get everything we want. We whine and think we know what’s best or what we think we deserve. We let our frustrations be known when we feel we’re owed more than what we’ve been given.

Our pride, selfishness, and perceived self-importance cause us to defiantly complain when we don’t get our own way, and mistakenly believe God should do whatever we ask Him to according to our wants.

But James 4:3 (AMP) explains, “You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires.”

In the end, God knows what’s best for us (and gives us so much) and reminds us that He’s still in charge, still in control, and has the final say. We can try to fight against it, but just like Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have the ultimate authority over the Packers and had to eventually surrender, we should too.

James 4:7-8 (AMP) tells us, “So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people].”

Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT) says, “Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’”

We can continue to make demands, whine, complain, and think we have all the power, but the sooner we realize that Jesus has the ultimate authority and loves us so much, we’ll humble ourselves and submit.

In order for us to continue on our “quest for a Super Bowl win,” we must “cave,” “fold,” and “surrender” to Jesus as we show up to “training camp” ready to do whatever is asked of us.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for being so demanding, entitled, and selfish. I pray my heart would be fully surrendered to You as I desire to do Your will. Thank you for all of the wonderful gifts and blessings I have undeservingly received. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Discussion Questions for PACKS:

  1. In what ways are you selfish or demanding in your prayer life?

  2. What areas of your life do you need to surrender to God’s authority and His way?