Heading into Sunday’s NFL games, there were a few things I believed about the upcoming season:
The Steelers would be better off without Antonio Brown and go to the Super Bowl.
The Titans were average to below average.
Cam Newton and the Panthers' offense would be dynamic.
Kerryon Johnson would be a Fantasy Football star.
Beyond my own beliefs about the season, the following statements seemed to be how the majority of fans and media members felt about certain teams and players:
The Cleveland Browns are very talented and their offense will light up the scoreboard.
The Ravens won’t be able to move the ball through the air, and will just run the ball.
Jameis Winston and the Bucs will be so much better this year with Bruce Arians as their head coach.
You can always count on Adam Vinatieri to be a reliable kicker.
After yesterday, all of those statements are being questioned and we are filled with so much confusion we don’t know what to believe anymore!
Based on one game, we have a choice to either throw away the beliefs we held to before the season and quickly change our mind...or stick with our convictions and wait for the season to play out.
Just like NFL fans will go back and forth on what they think is true about teams and players, we can get caught up in a similar way when it comes to our beliefs about God and our current circumstances.
How quickly do we start doubting God after one bad week? We might say, “God isn’t answering my prayers the way I thought He would, so He must not care about me” or “He can’t be a good God if He allowed this to happen to me.” How easily do we discard our beliefs when adversity strikes?
It’s understandable that we would have some doubts about the Steelers, Browns, and Panthers after yesterday, and it's also hard to avoid the questions we wrestle with in our own challenging lives.
But, the encouragement for us today is to stand firm in our convictions about God and believe He's always loving, good, and faithful. Even as our circumstances change and our beliefs are challenged, He remains the same.
When we do encounter tough choices or need to know what to believe during a trial, let’s follow James 1:5-8 (NLT): "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.
"Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.”
While we listen to the beliefs of media members and fans flip flop as they talk about the circumstances from Sunday's games, let it be a reminder for us not to waver in life, but to keep our faith in God alone.
Let's trust in His unchanging character...seek His wisdom and believe He’ll give it to us...and keep our beliefs rooted in Him. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I need wisdom and I trust You will provide it. My circumstances are tough today and I need You to guide me. I pray I wouldn't doubt Your goodness or faithfulness. Please help me not to waver in my faith or divide my loyalties, but give me the wisdom to believe what is true. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What NFL beliefs were challenged the most after Week 1?
Is anything causing your faith to waver? What do you feel unstable and unsettled about?
What do you need wisdom for today and how can we encourage you?
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