The NFL regular season is over and 14 of the 32 teams are heading to the playoffs! Yesterday, before week 17 kicked off, there were 18 teams still alive in the playoff hunt, with some teams needing to win their own game while also needing another team to help them out by winning their game.

The Colts needed to win their game against the Jaguars (which they did) and needed the Miami Dolphins to lose their game against the Bills (which they did), so they are heading to the playoffs.

The Giants had hopes of making the playoffs after they beat the Cowboys, but they needed help from the Eagles to beat Washington and it didn’t happen.

Week 17 is always wild because as much as coaches like to have control over everything, they can’t control the outcome of games they aren’t involved with.

That’s why coaches have to tell themselves and their players to “control what you can control.” In other words, go out and try to win the game they’re playing in, but acknowledge they don’t affect what’s happening in another stadium.

As fans, we know what it’s like to scoreboard watch when another game’s outcome affects whether or not our favorite team gets into the playoffs. We can also relate to the value of living with the mindset “control what you can control.”

We understand that so much takes place in the world and in our personal lives that are beyond our control. This reality can either lead us to a place of frustration and despair, or a true surrender to God.

Part of realizing that so much is out of our control is the acceptance that God is all-powerful, all-knowing, ultimately in control, and worthy to be trusted.

Even though we currently live in a broken world filled with evil, we know that Jesus died and rose again and God’s divine plan to redeem us and the world is well underway. When we see the final scoreboard, God wins in the end!

He is on the throne and He is God, and we are not, so that should lead to relief, freedom, and peace instead of worry and fear because it’s not all up to us. Worry and fear take over when we think we’re in charge. The sooner we admit we’re not and have a limited understanding, the better off we’ll be.

So, as we begin a new year, will we surrender to God and trust that He’s in control and willing to lead us and strengthen us? Are we willing to “control what we can control,” rest in knowing so much of this life is out of our hands, and believe we’re actually in better hands?

Romans 11:33-36 (NLT) declares, ”Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His ways!

“For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give Him advice? And who has given Him so much that He needs to pay it back? For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen.”

Psalm 135:6 (NLT) says, “The Lord does whatever pleases Him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths.”

God is in control, loves us, and knows what’s best, so let’s let go and find peace as we believe this to be true. Let’s control what we can control which includes deciding who we trust, who we follow, what we focus on, and who we invest our time with.

As we begin 2021, I’d like to share the acronym that Washington head coach, Ron Rivera, uses when he tells his players they can control their “APE” – attitude, preparation, and effort.

This gives us a good place to start in helping us worry less about what we can’t control…and focusing on what we can, as we surrender to God’s plans and His ways.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: God, You are the almighty, all-powerful creator, and sustainer. I place my trust in You as I know You are in control. Your plans are better than mine and I thank You for leading me and guiding me. Please help me not to worry about what’s out of my control and instead focus on what You’re asking me to do each day. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Discussion Questions for PACKS:

1. What does the saying “control what you can control” practically look like for you? What do you need to let go of?

2. How do you normally respond to things that happen that are out of your control? In what ways would you like to react differently?