This weekend is very special for football fans as we witness two different classes of Hall of Famers be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In total, there are eight members of the 2021 class and 20 inductees from the 2020 centennial class.
I can’t wait to hear one of my all-time favorite players, Peyton Manning, give his speech...and current NFL analysts and former head coaches, Jimmy Johnson and Bill Cowher are sure to provide entertaining speeches.
But the person I'm most thrilled to see enshrined is former Pittsburgh Steelers safety, Donnie Shell. He is a humble, kind, and thoughtful man of God who has been a friend and encourager to me over the years and I’m so glad he’s receiving this honor.
Donnie went to five straight Pro Bowls as a member of the “Steel Curtain” defense that won four Super Bowls. As a three-time, first-team All-Pro selection and the 1980 Steelers MVP, he contributed huge hits, big plays, and interceptions.
Retiring from a very impressive career in 1987, Donnie has had to wait until now to put on a gold jacket. In fact, his story has consistently involved waiting.
Entering the 1974 NFL Draft out of South Carolina State, Donnie waited for 17 rounds and 442 picks without hearing his name called. The Steelers then offered him a contract as an undrafted free agent, but he sat on the bench for almost three years before becoming an eleven-year starter.
After enduring many years of waiting to make it to the Hall of Fame, and watching his teammates get in along the way (he was Tony Dungy’s presenter in 2016), it’s finally Donnie's time! (Even though he had to wait an extra year since last year’s ceremony was postponed.)
Donnie’s faithful perspective throughout the wait can be an encouragement to us today. When joining me on The UNPACKIN’ it Podcast, he shared these incredible insights about his journey:
“It got frustrating...I just kept holding onto God...holding onto the things I know about the Scriptures and who He is…”
After he was named a Hall of Fame finalist in 2002, his prayer request was, “Lord, I want to be in the Hall of Fame.”
As the years went by, his prayer eventually changed to this: “Lord, let Your will be done.”
Donnie said that after he prayed that, “All of a sudden a peace came over me that surpasses understanding, it’s unbelievable. I think sometimes the Lord allows us to go through different things to sharpen us and also to make our thoughts His thoughts.”
He added, “God didn’t change my desire for it , He changed my attitude about how I was asking. He knew my heart, He knew I wanted it….I think the main thing is that I began to walk in step with Him instead of me walking out of step...It’s okay to ask the Lord for things and He hears us when we ask, but do you have the right attitude?”
When Donnie thought about the long wait, he realized that God wanted to see how he was going to react. He was challenging him to be either bitter and angry or keep walking with Him.
Donnie acknowledged, “The Lord has a plethora of ways of making us grow and mature and trust in Him...sometimes He checks our attitude...'you said you believe Donnie, are you going to trust Me in this or not?'”
The wait is finally over for Donnie Shell! He will forever be a Pro Football Hall of Famer and the Bible he used during his playing career will be displayed in Canton, Ohio.
As we celebrate with him as a fellow UNPACK this reader, many of us find ourselves in our own season of waiting. We have made our desires known to the Lord and have prayed about something over and over, yet we continue to wait.
While we do, what is our attitude? Are we trusting God or are we getting bitter and angry? Will we continue to walk with Him?
Maybe we need to change our prayer and surrender our desires to Him and honestly pray, “Let Your will be done,” even if it means the outcome is different than we wanted or we have to keep waiting.
Jesus gave us the following perfect examples of a surrendered prayer while He was on earth preparing to die on the cross for us:
"And going a little farther He fell on His face and prayed, saying, 'My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will'” (Matthew 26:39; ESV).
“'Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done'” (Luke 22:42; AMP).
Jesus also tells us to pray this in Matthew 6:10 (ESV): “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
It’s really hard to wait, but thankfully when we do we can hold onto God, trust in His plan, and surrender to His will while knowing that His timing and His ways are best.
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for hearing my prayers. I pray that Your will be done in my life and that I’d remain surrendered to You. I pray my attitude would reflect deep faith and trust in You and Your character and Your timing. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
What have you learned from your seasons of waiting?
In what ways do you need to surrender and pray, "Lord, let Your will be done"?
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