With the NFL Draft over, fans now have a good grasp of what each team’s roster looks like heading into the summer. Based on draft picks and free agent signings, predictions are already being made as to which teams look best on paper.
ESPN.com has an article posted with the headline, “Post-Draft Joy or Blues? How all 32 NFL Fan Bases Should Feel.” Their NFL Nation reporters give every team a rating based on how optimistic fans should feel. The rating system is 3 – confident, 2 – hopeful, or 1 – lukewarm.
Some of the teams are broken down the following way:
(3) – Fans of the Falcons, Jaguars, Rams, Vikings, Patriots, Saints and Eagles should all feel confident.
(2) – Fans of the Ravens, Panthers, Packers, Texans, Chiefs, and Chargers should feel hopeful but have a few question marks.
(1) – Fans of the Cardinals, Bills, Cowboys, Broncos, Colts, and Jets should feel lukewarm because they have a lower ceiling for success.
Fan bases may fall into these categories now, but they will ride the roller coaster of emotions as some players turn out to be surprisingly better than anticipated, and others get injured and alter the course of the season.
As reporters tell us how we “should” feel based on the current state of the team, don’t we also feel pressured to feel a certain way based on our current circumstances?
If someone has wronged us, we’re expected to be angry, bitter, and vengeful. If we can’t find a job, we’re supposed to be worried, fearful, and upset. If we’re working hard, we should be stressed and overwhelmed.
We often justify these feelings because we think they’re the proper responses based on lies or because our focus is in the wrong place.
But, whether the Browns should feel lukewarm about their upcoming season or the Patriots should feel confident, ultimately it comes down to perspective and what you’re attaching your feelings to.
When we attach our feelings to a difficult circumstance, we feel hopeless, but when we attach our feelings to Jesus and His truth we feel confident.
We can either worry about our challenging situation and dwell on how bad it is, which of course results in negative feelings, or we can be filled with hope and confidence because we’re focusing on the power and goodness of God.
Philippians 4:6-7 (AMP) encourages us with these words: “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
“And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].”
Today, let’s not buy the lie that we “should” be anxious, worried, angry or lukewarm because our current outlook is bleak. Instead, let’s choose the peace that is available to us…and enjoy the confidence and hope that flows from it.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray I wouldn’t allow feelings of fear and worry take over. Please help me look beyond my circumstances and see You and Your power. Give me the strength to rest in Your peace, so I can be confident and hopeful to get through anything. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
