The NFL Draft is quickly approaching, while teams are finalizing which positions and players they hope to select. GMs and coaches are evaluating their current rosters to figure out what their team needs to be more successful.

Teams can’t wait to add more players or find the next big star to make their team better, so there’s always a lot of anticipation for the draft.

They believe once they draft a franchise quarterback, they’ll have what it takes to make the playoffs. Some teams feel they are one playmaker away on offense to be a Super Bowl contender, and others are convinced that once they find a strong defensive end, they’ll finally have the defense they’ve been waiting for.

Teams go into the draft looking to fill a hole, fix what they’re lacking on defense, bring in the missing piece, and chase after the next draft pick because they think once they get the right guy, they’ll be good.

The problem is, teams like the Jets continue to look for that franchise QB and are always onto the next top draft pick because their previous selections didn’t satisfy their desired results like they thought they would.

The truth is, teams are never really happy and are always looking for something else to get them over the top until they win a Super Bowl. Even then, the satisfaction doesn’t last long because they want to win another one.

Today, I want to unpack how a team chasing success by looking to the draft as the next opportunity to fill all the holes on their roster is similar to our own search and desire to be content.

We tell ourselves that once we get the promotion, once we get married, once we have a baby, once we get the house, once we have money in the bank, once we get that car, we’ll be happy…we’ll be good.

We are discontent because we think we need to fill the hole or find the missing link. We tell ourselves we just need that one more thing and then we’ll be fine.

Although most of the time these things aren’t bad, they never seem to deliver or make everything better or fulfill our deepest longings.

Happiness might be found for a while, but our discontentment creeps in and the one thing we thought would solve all our problems ends up leaving us empty, longing for more, and feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled.

So, we go back to the “draft” hoping to find the next “great thing” that will make everything better, and convince ourselves it will finally do it.

But it actually doesn’t and falls short of bringing us contentment because the truth is, only Jesus can fill the deepest longings of our soul and the hole in our hearts.

Thankfully, Jesus is the One who brings satisfaction and fulfillment in our lives. Instead of worrying about what we don’t have and chasing whatever is next, we can be cheerful, at ease, and at peace regardless of our circumstances, because He is the “missing piece” between us and contentment.

Paul writes about this in Philippians 4:11-13 (AMP): “Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances.

“I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need.

“I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

Today, let’s enjoy the blessings of life but remember that true contentment, salvation, and eternal peace are only found in Jesus. Let’s rest in Him, depend on Him, and delight in Him…no matter the circumstance.

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to stop chasing the next thing in life, but find contentment in Your Son, Jesus. I pray I’d rely on His strength to get me through any and all circumstances because I know true satisfaction for my soul is found in Jesus. It’s in His name I pray, Amen.

Discussion Questions for PACKS:

1. Is there a “next thing” that you’re currently pursuing because you think it will solve all of your problems or make you happy?

2. What “next thing” have you chased after in the past….and was it the “missing piece,” you thought it would be?