The Philadelphia Eagles had a tremendous year by going 13-3 in the regular season, earning the number one seed in the NFC, and winning both games in the playoffs. They are now preparing for a Super Bowl rematch with the New England Patriots.
The intriguing part of their story is that their starting quarterback, Carson Wentz, was injured in week 14 and out for the season, turning the team into an underdog from that point on.
When the devastating news was revealed, fans doubted the Eagles could win the Super Bowl without Wentz leading the way. They had high hopes when Wentz was playing at an MVP-caliber level, but their dreams were shattered when they knew he wasn’t coming back.
Oddsmakers and NFL media gave up on the Eagles too, doubting they would live up to their number one seed. They predicted the Falcons and Vikings would go into Lincoln Financial Field and beat Philadelphia in the playoffs. In spite of their underdog status, however, the Eagles kept winning and proving everyone wrong.
The Eagles' players have done a tremendous job of embracing the underdog role. They have remained confident in the players on their team, and have trusted their ability to win with backup quarterback, Nick Foles.
Foles has done the unexpected by playing at a high level and helping the Eagles make it to the Super Bowl...where they will once again be considered the underdog.
When it comes to our own lives, we can find ourselves in similar situations. How many times have we dwelled on what we don’t have...or give up when our chances for victory have lessened...or rely on the “oddsmakers” that say there's no way our circumstances will turn out well?
But as followers of Jesus, we can can choose to remain confident while believing in the unexpected. Trusting that God is powerful, faithful, and able to do the unexpected gives us hope and allows us to overcome doubt.
We may identify ourselves as "underdogs" today because a win seems unlikely with the difficulties we face. Even so, let's keep in mind that we serve a God who shows up in the most lopsided scenarios, and breaks through the bleakest outlooks.
It doesn’t matter if we lose our “starting quarterback” because God is able to show us a way that leads to victory. We just have to choose between trusting Him or listening to the “oddsmakers.”
I love the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Old Testament becasue it tells us how they went up against King Nebuchadnezzar and chose to put their full faith in God.
They boldly declared in Daniel 3:17 (NLT): "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us.”
We can consider this same kind of confidence and encouragement in Ephesians 3:20-21 (AMP): "Now to Him who is able to do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think , according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I place my trust in You and believe that You are able to do anything. Sometimes I feel like an underdog when the opponent seems too great and the situation too tough, but I know You are powerful. Help me to have confidence and hope for You to do the unexpected. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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