This NFL season has been about the backup quarterback. During the past eight weeks, we’ve seen 15 backup quarterbacks come in for the original starter.
Some have been called upon because of injuries, poor play, or retirement. Some have gone on the field temporarily and others have taken over permanently.
We’ve seen some backup QBs provide a spark and others cause their team to take a step back, but no matter the situation, every one of them entered with a weakness.
There is a reason they weren’t the starter, to begin with, and there is some flaw in their game that initially caused them to be a backup. The reasons run the gamut: lack of experience...inability to run...accuracy issues...being an older player...not being productive on a previous team.
So when the backup becomes the starter, the coaches have the responsibility to figure out a way to hide their quarterback’s weakness.
If a player can’t throw the deep ball as well as the previous starter, they put in plays for shorter routes. If a player isn’t as mobile, they add more protection. If a player has inexperience, they simplify the play calls.
Regardless of the situation, the coaches don’t want their player’s weaknesses to be revealed. Coaches do the best they can to conceal any shortcomings.
In the NFL, this makes sense since their main motivation is to win and try to keep the team rolling - even when a backup is in the game. In life, we have a similar approach because our default action is to conceal any of our shortcomings, only show our best sides, and hide any of our weaknesses.
Although it's common to not want to appear weak or vulnerable or broken, as followers of Jesus, our perspective on weaknesses should be much different.
By looking through the lens of the Bible, we don’t have to hide or pretend like we have it all together. While acknowledging our weaknesses and recognizing our brokenness, Jesus comes in to heal us and shine through us.
We can confidently and even boastfully reveal our shortcomings as we surrender to our Savior, Jesus, and allow His power to take over.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT), "Each time He said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
Psalm 34:17-18 (AMP) says, "When the righteous cry , the Lord hears and rescues them from all their distress and troubles. The Lord is near to the heartbroken. And He saves those who are crushed in spirit (contrite in heart, truly sorry for their sin).”
We want our lives to be perfect and appear to have it all together as we show off our perceived strength and hide any weakness. But there is freedom when we stop pretending like we aren’t weak and instead rely on the One who actually is perfect and does His best work in our brokenness.
Today, let’s flip the script from what the world says and echo the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:10 (AMP):
"So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak , then I am strong .”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I need you. Thank you for meeting me in my weakness because I know there is healing in the brokenness. You give me strength and You are my rescuer. I am nothing without You and I know Your grace is all I need. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What would it look like to live a life where you humbly acknowledged your weaknesses instead of always trying to show your strengths?
How has Jesus made you strong in your weakness?
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