On Monday night, No.3 TCU takes on the reigning champions, No.1 Georgia, in the College Football Playoff National Championship game. Nobody is surprised to see the talented Georgia team back on the big stage, but TCU, on the other hand, has experienced a remarkable turnaround that's leaving fans stunned. They are led by head coach, Sonny Dykes, who in his first year helped the team go 13-1 after the team didn’t win more than seven games in each of the past four years. He’s done an amazing job, but one of the more fascinating decisions he made at the beginning of the season was to name Chandler Morris (a former Oklahoma transfer) the starting quarterback. That meant TCU’s previous three-year starter, Max Duggan, became the backup. Although that put him in a tough spot, he didn't give up or transfer somewhere else. Instead, he embraced being the best backup he could be, and before long, Duggan moved on from that role. During the first game of the season, Morris sprained his knee in the third quarter and Duggan who went in for him has been the team’s starting quarterback ever since. Despite the initial disappointment, things worked out well for Duggan and the team. His strong individual season led to his becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist and his team playing in the National Championship game. Earlier this season, Dykes talked about Duggan in a way that shines a light on his character by saying, “I’m probably as proud of Max as any player I’ve ever been around. He started 29 games coming into this season, has a coaching change…he loses the job, which is really hard…and he never blinks. He never had a bad practice, he never pouted, he never thought of himself one time. How many people can you say that about?” Today, I want to unpack the rhetorical question Dykes asks as we consider how we respond to hard situations. What do others say about us when they see us get benched, lose our job, fail, face difficulties, or have something go wrong? Do they say, “he never blinks,” “never pouted,” and “he never thought of himself one time”? More specifically, as followers of Jesus, does our faith and confidence in Him remain without “blinking” or wavering? 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 .” When things don’t go the way we want them to in life, we can easily pout and feel sorry for ourselves and even give up. However, we need to continue having hope as we do the right things and trust God to work things out for good in His timing. Galatians 6:9 (ESV) provides this encouragement: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.” James 1:12 (ESV) tells us, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.” When disappointment hits and we find ourselves on the “bench,” frustration and self-centeredness can take over if we focus on our own problems instead of how we can remain as good teammates. But by living out Romans 12:10 (NIV), “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves,” people could say, "He never thought of himself one time." So as we start 2023, let’s choose to be the kind of people who honor others, remain steadfast, and don’t grow weary in doing good. Let’s be encouraged by TCU’s QB, Max Duggan, who went to the bench, and yet stayed ready without pouting, blinking, or thinking of himself...and before long, was back out there leading his team all the way to the National Championship game! I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that my initial response to disappointment is often pouting, complaining, and doubting. I pray, Lord, that You would help me not grow weary in doing good and help me remain steadfast as I trust in You. I desire to honor others above myself and not waver in my faith in You. Please give me Your strength and power to do so. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:
1. How do you normally respond to disappointments in life? 2. Which is toughest for you to do: never blink, never pout, or never think of yourself?
Comentários