We're in the middle of the NFL offseason. The draft is completed, teams have had OTA's, and training camp is just around the corner.
And yet, despite being a couple of months removed from games, every fan and analyst has their perspective on which teams will have success and which ones will struggle this upcoming season. Some teams improved through the draft, such as the Eagles, and some improved through making trades, such as the Raiders. Other franchises, like the Bills, focused more on maintenance for next season, while some, like the Cardinals, seemed to have done poorly this offseason, according to analysts. We can analyze and guess all day long, but the reality is that the teams who remain standing at the end of the season are the ones who consistently have the most stability. Year after year, there are a few surprising teams that pop up out of nowhere and win more games than expected, but the franchises we can count on are the ones who are solid, reliable, and dependable. This usually means they have a strong front office, a steady coaching staff, and a durable quarterback. A few teams who have modeled overall stability, and consistency throughout the years, include the Patriots, Packers, and Steelers. On the flip side, there are teams heading into the season that seem to be very unstable. It’s hard to count on them having a special season when there are coaching issues, injuries, concerns at QB, and an inconsistent track record. Teams like the Cleveland Browns, the Houston Texans, and the Chicago Bears are presently in a precarious position. Stability is something we look for and value in football, but the same is true in our own lives. We must act in a way that reveals reliability, steadiness, and consistency. Nobody wins (including ourselves) when we operate in a way that is up and down, unpredictable, and unbalanced. When we allow our emotions to get the best of us, we often make unwise choices and let pride bring us down. Thankfully, Jesus invites us to live a steadfast life in Him that results in dependability and steadiness. Even when life gets tough and the storms come, we are stable because our strength and foundation are in Jesus. Isaiah 26:4 (NLT) encourages us to “Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.” Jesus explains and illustrates what a life built on Him truly looks like in Matthew 7:24-27 (AMP): “So everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. “And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a foolish (stupid) man who built his house on the sand. “And the rain fell, and the floods and torrents came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house, and it fell—and great and complete was its fall.” In football, the teams that remain standing at the end of the season are the ones who consistently have the most stability. Today, with that in mind, let’s decide to consistently follow Jesus so we can experience stability and remain standing in the end. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are times when I’m very unbalanced and allow circumstances and emotions to get the best of me. Help me to build my life on a firm foundation and consistently follow You, so I can remain stable. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What situations in the past have caused you to become unstable?
Is there an area in your life that needs more consistency?
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