Last season was a huge disappointment for quarterback Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles. Although it’s hard to pinpoint where things went wrong, it’s fair to say that the relationship with Wentz and head coach, Doug Pederson, lacked the necessary amount of trust in each other.
Now, Pederson is out of a job and Wentz has been traded to the Indianapolis Colts to play for head coach, Frank Reich, his former offensive coordinator in Philadelphia.
The good news for the Colts is that the experience Reich and Wentz had in Philly created a significant amount of trust, which sets up the QB and coach for a strong partnership in Indy.
Colts’ General Manager, Chris Ballard, explained it this way to Kevin Hickey of usatoday.com:
“The quarterback has to feel comfortable with who’s pulling the strings and who’s pulling the trigger. And that made the trade for Carson a lot easier because I knew there was a trust level between the two of them, and trust is everything in this league, and trust between the quarterback and the play-caller is everything.”
This makes so much sense because along with trusting the coach's game plan and adjustments made throughout the game, a QB has to trust that his coach will put him in the right situations and set him up to maximize his skill set. When a QB has confidence in his head coach, he will operate more effectively and produce greater results.
At the same time, the coach has to trust his quarterback to execute the offense and the plays being called, while also trusting he’ll do what is best for the team.
I can go on and on explaining why trust is the foundation in football, but the bottom line is that teams can have talented QBs and an accomplished coach, yet without trust, they won’t win at the highest level.
In our own lives, “trust is everything” as well. It’s important in our relationships with family and friends and especially with God. Trust between the “quarterback” and the “play-caller” is everything.
We have to trust that God is putting us in the “right situations” and “setting us up” to maximize our spiritual gifts and “skill sets” as we trust His “game plan” each day.
When we have the confidence in our “head coach” and the “plays He’s calling,” we will operate more effectively and ultimately produce more fruit in our lives.
Trust is the foundation of our relationship with Jesus, beginning when we place our trust in Him for salvation. We continue to trust that our eternity is secure with Him…His plan is the best…His way leads to true life…and our sins are forgiven.
We can trust that good will come from difficult situations, and trust that His faithfulness and power will get us through anything.
Psalm 37:5 (ESV) encourages us to “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”
The writer of Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV) says, “You keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You because He trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
Today, let’s cling to the truth, “Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust…” (Psalm 40:4; AMP).
And let’s declare “... I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation” (Psalm 13:5; ESV).
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me keep my life rooted in a deep trust in You. I know You are good and faithful, and an everlasting rock. I pray my mind would stay on You, so when situations get tough, I’d rely on You and keep my confidence in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
How would you evaluate the level of trust You have in God and what areas are lacking?
What holds you back from trusting God fully?
What experiences do you have that point to You trusting God and Him coming through?
Comments