"We Just Fed Up"

Heading into this season, the Los Angeles Chargers had a talented roster with high expectations, and once again, they've been a disappointment. They lost 23-20 yesterday to the Packers and for the fifth time, they fell short in a one-score game. They move to 4-6 and are the 4th place team in the AFC West. After the game, Chargers safety told ESPN, "We just fed up. Something's got to change." Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers are having a good season in some regards, but their offense has had its struggles and yesterday’s performance resulted in a 13-10 loss to the Browns. According to ESPN.com, Steelers running back, Najee Harris, was frustrated after the game and said this about his performance (12 carries for 35 yards) and the offensive inconsistencies: "There's just a lot of stuff that just goes around that you guys don't see. I guess I'm trying to say it's just, I'm just at a point where I'm just tired of this…” Harris later added, "I just don't know what to do. I'm just stuck in this situation where I just don't have an answer to it.” The New York Jets are another team having a frustrating season. They had high hopes until Aaron Rodgers was injured in the first game. Their defense has carried them to four wins, but after yesterday’s blowout loss to the Bills, the team is now 4-6 and losers of their last three. Buffalo dominated them yesterday, 32-6, and head coach, Robert Saleh had enough of his quarterback, Zach Wilson’s mistakes. Putting up with him long enough, Saleh benched him with 2:17 remaining in the 3rd quarter. He announced today that Tim Boyle is now the starter. In all three of these teams' situations, there's a clear sense of frustration and disappointment and an admission that they're “fed up,” “tired of this,” and have had enough. I’m not sure they'll be able to make the necessary changes to have a deep playoff run, but they can’t keep going the way they are. How about each of us today? Are we “fed up” with how things are going in our lives?  Are we “tired of this” stuff that’s holding us back? Have we “had enough” of certain behaviors and attitudes? The encouragement for us today is, that it’s not a bad spot to be (temporarily) because change is possible and available. When we actually get to the end of ourselves and admit things aren’t working and we’re truly surrendered to God, He steps in and transforms us. If we're frustrated and disappointed by how we're living, we have to be willing to throw up our hands, get out of the way, stop trying to do things our way, and let Jesus take over. We must allow Him to lead us, transform our minds, and change our hearts. If we acknowledge we’ve had enough of our sinful and selfish behavior, we must submit to Jesus and trust Him to change our attitude and desires. 1 Peter 4:1-3 (NLT) provides a great challenge for us: “So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.” We have to put our foot down and say enough is enough and “bench” that lifestyle and stop chasing our own sinful desires. For others of us today, we may also be “fed up” or “tired of this” when it comes to going through the motions of the Christian life. Are we just going to church and leaving without engaging? Are we doing religious things out of guilt or even to earn something from God that He freely gives? Or do we need to make a change because we’ve “had enough” of complacency and mediocrity and want a vibrant relationship with Jesus? We can be encouraged by how The Message translation paraphrases the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-30: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Today, if we're experiencing a clear sense of frustration and disappointment about the life we’re living, let’s acknowledge that change is needed, and let’s stop doing things in our own strength or out of selfishness. Instead, let’s take Jesus up on His offer to walk with Him, rest in Him, enjoy Him, and surrender to Him. I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for meeting me in this place of frustration and disappointment. I don’t like how I’ve been living, and I don't want to be so selfish and stubborn. I desire to do Your will, follow Your plan, and walk with Jesus. Please transform my mind, change my heart, and alter my perspective as I surrender to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR PACKS:

1. In what ways are you fed up with how you've been living your life? 2. What do you think of Jesus' invitation to walk with Him and learn how to live freely and lightly?