The Super Bowl is set and I’m really looking forward to watching the Chiefs and the Eagles compete on the biggest stage. We’ll be writing about both teams over the next couple of weeks, but today I want to focus on Philadelphia.

The Eagles have dominated all season long, confirming what an amazing starting quarterback Jalen Hurts is, and solidifying Nick Sirianni as a strong head coach.

They turned a lot of heads in 2021 during their first year together and then this season the two have been paramount to lifting the Eagles back to the Super Bowl.

Fans and media members will be celebrating their success and will give both men praise over the next two weeks, but many of these same people were singing a different tune when Hurts was drafted and Sirianni was hired.

In April 2020, the Eagles had Carson Wentz as their franchise QB but decided to draft Jalen Hurts in the second round. Fans were beside themselves when this happened and were outraged by the selection.

I looked back at some of their reactions, and here is what I found:

“This is a joke right?”

“Oh boy that’s a dumb pick”

“JOIN ME IN PAIN, PHILADELPHIA”

“Completely indefensible”

Needless to say, fans didn’t expect Hurts to become an MVP candidate by 2022, leading them to a Super Bowl.

To go along with the doubts about Hurts, when the Eagles hired Sirianni in 2021, fans and media members were very skeptical of him early on. He was criticized and laughed at for his introductory press conference…his 2-5 record to start…his play-calling…and his “flower metaphor” (used during another press conference).

However, Sirianni has won everyone over as he continues to show what he’s capable of while preparing his team for the Super Bowl.

When we think about the initial responses to Hurts and Sirianni, we are reminded how we as fans are prone to jump to conclusions and make snap judgments.

We so often lack trust and hope and have a tough time believing in certain players and coaches. Our negative thoughts include:

• I don’t see it.

• I don’t know how this turns out well.

• There is no way he will win over the city.

• I don’t think he’s capable of taking this team to the next level.

• I’ve got to see it to believe it.

But, the lesson we learned with the Eagles is how important it is to give a player or coach a chance to show us what they can do. Instead of writing them off right away, we can give them the benefit of the doubt. Instead of already making up our minds that they aren’t the answer, we can remain patient and give them a chance to come through.

When it comes to our own lives, we’re prone to jump to conclusions and make snap judgments in tough situations. We often head toward worry, fear, negativity, and anxiousness.

Thankfully, as followers of Jesus, instead of responding with doubt and skepticism we can live by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP) says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises]—”

Hebrews 11:6 (AMP) tells us, “But without faith, it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.”

As we desire to trust and hope in God, we often wrestle with these questions:

• Are we willing to surrender every aspect of our lives and give Him a chance to take over?

• When things don’t make sense on the surface, are we willing to wait to see what God has in store?

• When troubles arise and we don’t know how things can turn out well, do we give God a chance to show us what He can do?

• When challenges hit, do we make up our minds on what we think the answer is, or do we remain patient and give God a chance to show us what He’s capable of?

• Do we hold back our excitement about God because we have to see it to believe it or do we move forward with confidence and expectancy because we know He always comes through for us?

Unlike coaches and players who don’t always work out or come through for us, God is always faithful and always worthy to be counted on as He leads us to victory.

We don’t see what He sees or know what He knows, so it’s silly for us to react negatively before giving Him a chance to reveal His goodness and His glory.

Psalm 34:8-9 (CSB) says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in Him! You who are His holy ones, fear the Lord, for those who fear Him lack nothing.”

The “Easy-to-Read Version” translates those verses this way: “Give the Lord a chance to show you how good He is. Great blessings belong to those who depend on Him! The Lord’s holy people should fear and respect Him. Those who respect Him will always have what they need.”

Today, even when things look bleak, we have no reason to write Him off. Even when things are taking longer than we think they should, we continue to trust Him. Ultimately, just give Him a chance!

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help my unbelief and my doubts. I pray I would trust You fully through every situation I face. Please forgive me for being skeptical when things look bleak and uncertain. I know You are faithful and You are good. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.