The first Sunday of the new NFL season was exciting and in many ways surprising. I was thrilled to see the Raiders win on a 2-point conversion, and psyched about Carson Wentz playing so well for the Eagles. We witnessed a few teams disappoint, and many players impress, so today we'll hear many bold statements on “Overreaction Monday.”
This happens each week during the season, but especially after the first games. We jump to conclusions and begin declaring that Jimmy Garoppolo and Dak Prescott will permanently replace Brady and Romo sooner than later.
People will say that the Giants are going to the Super Bowl and the Lions are heading to the playoffs...or to give up on the Colts and Chargers and look out for the Bucs and Texans. We quickly forget that it’s only one game and there is a long season ahead of us.
Even though we know this deep down, we easily fall into the trap of overreacting. As NFL fans, we can be shortsighted and lack the willingness to see the big picture. All we know at the moment is what we observed in week one of the season, so that’s what ends up affecting our opinions and feelings about each team.
We can also overreact and become shortsighted with situations in our own lives. This happens when we have a limited view of the big picture and reflect a lack of faith.
When we have a bad day or a tough week, we need to be careful not to jump to conclusions without trusting that God is in control. We must recognize that the difficulty gives us an opportunity to strengthen and live out our faith.
As followers of Jesus, let’s not forget that He is working in and through us. Our thoughts don't have to be filled with doubt and overreaction but instead filled with hope. His word is filled with promises as He provides what we need to live for Him in faith.
The Bible encourages us in 2 Peter 1:5-9 (NLT) saying, "In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins."
On this “overreaction Monday,” let’s trust God for our hope, self-control, and endurance. Today, let's not be shortsighted or forget all that He has already done for us through Jesus. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess that sometimes I overreact when things don’t go my way. I pray that I would trust You in those moments and recognize the hope that is found in Jesus. Please help me not to be shortsighted, but instead, believe that You are in control and see the bigger picture. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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