While navigating matchups and results during the week in week out roller-coaster ride of the NFL season, we can't help but have thoughts and emotions that involve doubt about our favorite teams.
Following a loss, fans question everything and can be quickly filled with doubt. After a win, it seems the doubts from last week vanish.
Here are a few doubts creeping in across the league right now:
We doubt that Mike Tomlin will continue his streak of non-losing seasons to start a career and it will end at 14 straight because the Steelers are in big trouble this year.
We doubt Carson Wentz is going to turn around the Colts while they sit at 0-3.
We doubt Washington’s defense is as tough as we thought it would be after they gave up 43 points to the Bills.
We doubt the Chiefs are as unstoppable as they once were after falling to the Chargers and starting the season with a record of 1-2.
On the flipside, after some wins, here are the doubts that no longer seem prevalent:
We no longer doubt that Aaron Rodgers is going to have a good season because of his crazy offseason, but realize he is playing as well as he always does.
Nobody doubts the difference Matthew Stafford makes at quarterback with the Rams as they are 3-0 and knocked off the Bucs yesterday.
The doubts about Derek Carr being a winning quarterback are disappearing in Las Vegas as they pulled out an overtime win to move to 3-0.
Doubts come and go throughout the NFL season, but when the doubts creep in, fans must remember the truth about the coaches and players involved and also look back at what history tells us about what they’ve previously been able to do. (Remember when we doubted Tom Brady and the Bucs last year?)
Of course, some doubts will play out the way we were afraid they would, but we must also realize it doesn’t mean we give up or stop believing in our team completely.
Many of us today may be filled with our own set of doubts about life, God, relationships, abilities, and the future. Life is hard and sometimes it feels like a roller coaster, so it’s not surprising when we doubt that things are going to get better or that God really loves us, or that we are capable of doing anything significant.
Although we may have moments or seasons of doubt, we must remember the truth about God and His Word and look back at what history shows us about His faithfulness.
We then must remember...
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful , for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13; AMP).
His goodness and impact on our lives are evident and He’s shown us His love over and over. Ultimately He sent Jesus to die on the cross and rise again so that we would be forgiven and have eternal life.
So even if doubts following disappointments take over, it doesn’t mean we totally give up or completely stop believing in God and His love and His promises and His faithfulness.
Rather, as Hebrews 10:23 (AMP) says, “Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful ...”
Today, when doubts inevitably pop up from circumstances getting rough and things not going the way we thought they would, let's turn to what is true...or more importantly, Who is true and trustworthy.
I'm Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: "Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You. Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past" (Psalm 25:4-6; NLT).
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What doubts are you wrestling with right now?
What truths and past faithfulness of God do you need to remind yourself of?
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