The crazy 2020 year in sports continues to take many twists and turns with the latest development in college football providing some good news.

Just a few weeks ago, the Big Ten Conference decided not to play their season this fall, but have now reversed that decision with games set to begin on October 24th.

Despite a delayed start and shortened season, they will still have a Big Ten Championship game and it appears they’ll be eligible to compete in the College Football Playoff.

Even though the Big Ten initially wasn’t going to participate in the fall season, other conferences around the country have already been playing.

Of course, as decision-makers in the Big Ten were sitting at home watching other schools play, they were forced to reevaluate their plans and consider changing their minds. Did they really want their conference to be left out and do the opposite of what so many other conferences were doing?

The talking points from the conference and school officials will be centered around the updated medical information they’ve been given, which has led them to resume football.

However, I think it’s fair to argue that they probably caved from the pressure they felt from players, coaches, and parents, and the fact that so many other conferences were playing.

I’m sure along the way (in the closed-door discussions), there was additional political, financial, and legal pressure that ultimately pushed the Big Ten to give the go-ahead.

Regardless of whether the Big Ten is making the right decision to change courses, as fans, we’re just glad football is happening and those players who want the opportunity to suit up this fall will be given that chance.

The part of this story I want to focus on today is how pressure was involved in the decision making (whether they admit it or not) and how we can relate to this.

In our childhood, we most likely experienced peer pressure when it came to doing what everyone else was doing. As we struggled through those choices, our parents probably asked us the classic question, “If all your friends jumped off a bridge would you do it too?”

But, as adults, are we really that much different than little kids being influenced by other kids on the playground? Aren’t we still susceptible to giving in when we feel pressured to do something?

Let’s be honest, we feel the pressure to make as much money as our friends…raise our kids to be the smart ones in class or the best athletes on the team…and keep up with what everyone else is doing. We don’t want to be left out from the crowd and looked down on for not being like them.

Even though we may have convictions about something, we can easily reverse our course because the outside pressure is too much.

(As a side note, I believe that peer pressure can be a good thing if we’re surrounded by Jesus followers who are influencing us to make positive changes and decisions in our lives.)

However, the key for us today is to consider the influences and pressures in our lives, and identify what motivates our behavior and mindsets the most.

Ultimately, we have to decide if we’re going to follow the crowd and please them or if we’re going to prioritize God’s ways and His clear direction for us – regardless of what other people say.

Paul puts it this way in Galatians 1:10 (ESV): “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

This is a challenge for us because we are daily pressured to think and be like everyone else. That’s why we have to continue seeking God’s truth in His Word and rely on His wisdom to help us make the best decisions according to His will.

Romans 12:2 (ESV) tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Today, let’s not let the pressure get the best of us, but instead, think clearly with our convictions rooted in Scripture as we trust God’s Spirit to lead and guide us on the right path.

Let’s value His voice more than anyone else’s. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray I’d live my life to please You instead of other people. Help me not to follow the crowd, but follow Jesus instead. Please lead and guide me and help me make the best decisions. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

1. Where does pressure come from in your own life?

2. What decisions have you made in the past that were heavily influenced by peer pressure?