I watch the NFL every Sunday and I like to think I have a pretty good pulse on what to expect and which teams should win. However, yesterday there were some very surprising results and performances that made no sense.
Here are a few puzzling outcomes:
The Jaguars upset the Bills, a top team in the AFC, 9-6.
The Cardinals beat the 49ers by 14 without Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins.
The Titans convincingly dominated the Rams and their high-powered offense winning 28-16.
The Broncos shut down the Cowboys for most of the day and at one point were up 30-0 before winning 30-16.
The Falcons lost last week to the Panthers, but yesterday beat the Saints 27-25.
The Browns blew out the Bengals 41-16.
Head-scratching games bring fun to the NFL and the unpredictability makes us keep watching. But when the scores don't make sense and we don't know what to do with the results or how to move forward in our evaluation of teams, it creates major confusion.
Oftentimes in life, we're left scratching our heads because things don't make sense. Certain outcomes or results don't go the way we expected and we're left unsure of what to do next and how to evaluate our situation.
However, in the moments and seasons when we ask "what's going on right now," it's is an opportunity to seek God and trust Him to provide us the direction we need.
Sometimes we don't get the answers to our big questions immediately, but God will show us the next right step to take.
Psalm 119:105 (NLT) tells us, “Your Word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
When we are confused and need clarity, we are given this assurance in James 1:5 (NLT): “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”
When things don't make sense, we must also rely on what we do know is true, and cling to the truth of the Gospel and the reality that God loves us and is with us. Even if the most recent result doesn't add up right now, we must remain committed to Him in faith and obedience.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (MSG) tells us, “Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.”
We can pray this prayer from Psalm 25:5 (NLT): "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."
Lastly, we persevere through the confusion when we remember God's faithfulness and what He has done previously. When we know He came through in the past and the Holy Spirit guided us, we can confidently know He'll come through again.
Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV) tells us, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.'”
Today let's be encouraged that when things in life make no sense we can respond with the six "Rs":
Take the next known RIGHT step that God REVEALS, even if it's a small one.
RELY on the truth that we do know.
REQUEST wisdom and direction from God.
REMAIN committed to Him in faith and obedience.
REMEMBER God's previous faithfulness.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I admit that things don't make sense right now and I'm not sure what to do next. I pray that You would reveal to me the next step I should take. I ask, Lord, that You would provide me wisdom and remind me of the truth You've already revealed to me. Please help me not to forget Your ongoing faithfulness in my life. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
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