The NFL playoffs continue to give us memorable storylines and special moments…and I can’t wait to see the Bucs travel to Green Bay and the Bills take on the Chiefs next weekend!

Today, I want to focus on the teams that have already lost in the playoffs, and specifically the Cleveland Browns.

Yesterday, they were knocked out by the reigning Super Bowl champs and this year’s favorite to win it again, the Kansas City Chiefs. Even so, the Browns played them extremely well with only a few plays making a difference in the outcome.

As disappointing as it is for the Browns to come up short, they took huge steps this year to solidify their franchise and show tremendous progress. We can’t forget they beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh last week to win their first playoff game since 1994.

Plus, after so many years searching for a quarterback and a head coach, this season revealed they can win with Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski.

It was only Stefanski’s first season as a head coach and he quickly changed the culture in Cleveland. Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield showed maturity in his ability as a quarterback (especially with his interceptions) throwing only eight this year compared to 21 last season. He also threw four more touchdowns in 2020 compared to the prior season.

Although the Browns are upset by the loss, Mayfield seems to have the right mindset heading into the offseason, with this comment:

“This is going to leave a bad taste in our guys’ mouth for extra motivation through the offseason, but yeah, we have come a long way since I first got here. We are not done yet, and that is the best part.”

They have come a long way and with a young coach, a young quarterback, and other developing contributors on offense and defense, the team is heading in the right direction. At the same time, they are still in process as they have a little ways to go to develop into a Super Bowl-caliber team.

When it comes to our own faith journeys, each of us is also in process. If we look back on our lives, we can see areas of growth where “we have come a long way,” yet we can also admit “we are not done yet” when it comes to becoming who God is developing us into.

When we recognize that each one of us is in process, it allows us to show each other more grace, compassion, and patience. Some of us have followed Jesus for a long time and others just had their first spiritual breakthrough.

Like the Browns, the key is taking steps in the right direction and making progress. This happens for us when we seek Jesus and pursue living the way God has called us to live.

Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1-2 (AMP,) “So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love.”

We are hopefully all looking to keep growing in these areas, so we need to rely on the Lord to change us from the inside-out and help us become more and more like Him.

Again, we are in process, and a work in progress, and thankfully as Paul writes in Philippians 1:6 (AMP), “I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].”

The ESV study notes for this verse explain that “Genuine spiritual progress is rooted in what God has done, is doing, and will do. His faithfulness ensures that He will be with believers until Jesus returns. They can have confidence that the God who has saved them will never let them go, and that they will inherit their eternal reward.”

The Browns had a setback yesterday, but Mayfield is confident that they are “not done yet, and that is the best part.” Today, let’s be encouraged and confident that God is still working in us because He’s not done yet, and that is the best part.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m so thankful for how far I’ve come and I trust that You are still working in me every day. I know I’m still in the process of becoming who You’ve called me to be, but help me not to get discouraged during setbacks. I pray I would keep my eyes fixed on Jesus because then I know I’ll be changed from the inside-out. Please help me to show grace and patience to everyone at different stages of their faith journey. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.