The NFL is known for its parity and the saying, “Any given Sunday.” In other words, any team can beat anyone during any given game which means we regularly see intense competition.
Through the first six weeks of the season, we saw many tight games including the second most overtime games with 11. In yesterday's week-seven games, however, some were close, but for the most part, it was a lopsided day of football.
Here are a few of the blowouts that took place:
The Titans shockingly dominated the Chiefs 27-3.
The Bengals overwhelmed the Ravens 41-17.
The Giants embarrassed the Panthers 25-3.
The Jets were outmatched by the Patriots 54-13.
The Bucs beat up on the Bears by winning 38-3.
The Cardinals handed the Texans another discouraging defeat at 31-5.
At one point, I did a double-take when I looked at the scoreboard for all of the games - especially seeing the Patriots score 54 points in an NFL game.
All the teams that won are feeling strong and accomplished today, but all the teams that were blown out and dominated, are feeling overwhelmed, outmatched, limited, defeated, embarrassed, and discouraged.
The scoreboard didn’t look pretty for them yesterday and they're wondering how they can overcome that, how they can move on from such a tough loss, and how they can keep going when they’re so beat up and their season looks so bleak.
The Ravens can chalk it up as an off day and the Chiefs are still extremely talented, but the Panthers, Jets, Bears, and Texans are trying to figure out how to salvage their season and persevere after their latest setback.
If we’re honest, there are many days where we feel more like the Texans than we do the Bucs. We feel overwhelmed by life’s difficulties and responsibilities and all that surrounds us seem so bleak.
One thing after another seems to be going wrong and we feel stuck, outmatched, limited, embarrassed, and discouraged. We ask ourselves, how we can keep going when we're so beat up and dominated by life’s challenges.
When questioning how we're going to salvage this season and persevere after the latest setback, we thankfully have an answer as followers of Jesus.
By turning to God’s Word, we're reminded that we're not ultimately outmatched because we have His power and strength available to us.
Although this life is going to beat us up and we’ll sometimes get dominated, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (NLT) reminds us, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”
Psalm 145:18-19 (NLT) tells us, "The Lord is close to all who call on Him, yes, to all who call on Him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cries for help and rescues them.”
In sports, it’s hard enough to lose, but when you get blown out and dominated, it’s even harder to keep going. For those of us today who can relate to similar feelings based on the latest developments in our lives and the discouraging defeats, we must continue to persevere and endure as we trust that Jesus is still with us and will get us through.
Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT) says, "So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.”
James 5:10-11 (NLT) explains, "For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.”
Today, as we acknowledge the things that are overwhelming us and leaving us feeling beat up and discouraged, let’s bring them to the feet of Jesus and rest in His comfort and mercy as He replenishes and refreshes us to bounce back and keep going as we continue to do God’s will.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I admit it's so hard to continue enduring the burdens I face. Please give me the strength to keep going instead of giving up. I pray for patience as I confidently trust in You. Thank you for Your mercy and comfort when I feel overwhelmed and beat up. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
In what ways do you feel overwhelmed or defeated today?
In what ways do you need to be replenished or refreshed?
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