This week, the NFL free agency frenzy has been taking place. Numerous players, such as Davante Adams, Sam Darnold, Justin Fields, Milton Williams, Chris Godwin, and Joey Bosa, have decided to sign with a new team or return to their current team.
Meanwhile, well-known players like Aaron Rodgers, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, and Russell Wilson are still waiting to sign.
The free-agent process is fascinating to watch with all of its moving pieces, rumors, and discussions about where certain guys will sign and for how much.
When one player agrees to a deal, the domino effect forces other players and teams to go in a different direction.
Once a team gives big money to one guy, it limits what they can provide another position. The second a team signs a quarterback, the other free agents who think that spot might be an option are forced to look elsewhere. The first players to sign set the market rate, while the other contracts follow the trend afterward.
General Managers, agents, and players all have a role to play during free agency, and at first glance, we think money drives the decisions.
I would argue, however, that free agency is all about timing. From a team's perspective, they can either be quick to sign players and possibly overpay them, wait and snag a guy for a discount because the market dries up, or wait and miss out on the player because he agrees to go elsewhere.
From a player's standpoint, he can quickly decide to sign with a team by accepting the first great offer, wait to see if other teams step up and offer even more money once other deals are made, or end up waiting too long and missing out on the opportunity.
Free agency is a wild time for decision-making and a tug-of-war between patience and acting quickly.
The truth is that we experience periods like this in our own lives. There are so many moving pieces in our jobs and families that we're regularly forced to choose between waiting and making quick choices.
Sometimes, we act too hastily, and if we had waited for more information, we would have gone a different route. Other times, we drag our feet and procrastinate about a decision, but we should have jumped in immediately instead of watching the opportunity vanish.
Just as some teams become big winners by signing the top players right away, and other teams who waited get tremendous value for the players they signed later, it's also about timing in our lives.
If we trust God and believe He sees the big picture and knows what's best for us, we can make wise decisions based on His timing. We must understand the difference between when He's asking us to wait and when to act quickly.
The problems come when we disobey or let fear win and rely on our perspective instead of His leading.
The Bible implores us in Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."
As we follow Jesus, there will be situations where we sense and discern He wants us to go for it right away, while other times, He will show us that He wants us to be patient because there will be something better ahead.
Either way, we want to make a move when He says to, so we wait confidently and expectantly for Him to show us the way.
Today, let's know that "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:25; ESV).
I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I believe You are all-knowing and know what's best for me. I pray my decisions will line up with Your will. Help me not to be afraid of quickly taking steps of faith when You want me to and be patient when I need to wait. Thank you for leading me. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.