As we anticipate the upcoming NFL season, we know it’s not going to be normal while the league continues to make adjustments because of the Coronavirus.
For rookies, heading into this year will be especially challenging because they weren’t able to experience the usual minicamps and OTAs that help them transition to the pro level.
These young players will have to overcome the typical challenges of being new to the NFL, while also adapting to the difficulties that come with the pandemic going on.
Coaches are going to be even more important this year as they walk through the season with their players, and rookies will need extra encouragement as they face the difficult circumstances ahead of them.
One of my favorite coaches, Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers has a wonderful message for his rookies, and we can also be inspired by his perspective today:
“Life is not going to be defined by what happens to him, things outside of their control. Their life is going to be defined by how they respond to those things, not only in the short-term but in the long- term.
“We can’t fear short-term misery. We have to embrace short-term misery. It can’t be about short-term gratification. There are going to be some dark days ahead. As mentors, we that interact with people, we can’t ignore that exists. It’s the same thing I am talking to my rookies about right now.
There are a lot of reasons for an NFL rookie in 2020 to fail. I am looking for guys who are looking to excel despite this. It might be setting themselves up for successful careers. It might not show up in terms of statistics in 2020.”
We’re not much different from NFL rookies because we are facing “short-term misery” and there are plenty of reasons for us to complain, make excuses, and fail.
However, we too, have the opportunity to embrace the “dark days” and excel, despite the problems that are out of our control.
As followers of Jesus, we especially “can’t fear short-term misery and must embrace short-term misery” because we know God will sustain us and strengthen us through it.
Plus, He’ll use it to have a positive long-term impact on our growth, character, maturity, and fruit when we trust Him and stay rooted in Him.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (AMP) explains, “Blessed is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord.
“For he will be like a tree planted by the waters, that spreads out its roots by the river; and will not fear the heat when it comes; but its leaves will be green and moist. And it will not be anxious and concerned in a year of drought nor stop bearing fruit.”
Let’s not be defined by what happens to us, but rather how we respond. Let’s trust and rely on the Lord with hope and confident expectations because He is the One who remains with us...even in the “dark days” and the “droughts.”
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m so thankful I can trust and rely on You during difficult trials. I pray my faith would grow deeper and I’d continue to bear fruit through the tough times. I want to excel through the short-term misery and I can’t do it in my own strength, so I depend on You. Thank you for the ways You are growing and maturing me as I stay rooted in You. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
Discussion Questions for PACKS:
In what ways are you excelling and growing because of short-term misery?
What are you having the toughest time relying on the Lord for?
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