Currently, NFL teams are in the middle of voluntary official team activities (OTAs), as players prepare for the upcoming season. Every player decides how involved they want to be in each practice. Since some players decide not to be seen at OTAs, and when their presence isn’t felt at the team facility, it leaves everyone asking the question, where is he? Across the NFL, we can ask:
Where is Tom Brady? Where is Aaron Rodgers? Where is Deebo Samuel? Where is Kyler Murray? Where is Lamar Jackson? Each of these top players has their reasoning for why they aren’t at their team’s OTAs. Although it might not make sense for fans, they've already proven to be great, so we can trust they know what they’re doing and have a purpose for their decision. These players are most likely working out behind the scenes and will show up in big ways once the season begins. They have a wider perspective as they’re thinking about the long season ahead and all aspects of their career. How wealthy NFL players skipping practice relates to our own lives may not be the perfect parallel, I hope we can all be encouraged by what's unpacked today. The world we live in is very broken and evil and especially lately, we've heard about one tragedy after another involving violence and death. The most recent school shooting took place on Tuesday as a gunman killed 19 children and two adults. It’s absolutely devastating, frightening, and heartbreaking that this could happen at an elementary school. When these types of things happen, we're filled with so many questions, including where is God? This question comes up regarding situations across the world, but we also ask the same question when it comes to our “own team” or our own lives. When things don’t make sense and evil runs rampant, we question why God doesn’t intervene the way we want Him to and why He doesn't stop something from happening. When we can’t feel His presence, we ask, where is He? The reality is, that we live in a temporary world filled with sin and where people have the freedom to choose God or choose evil. The Bible tells us in 1 John 5:19 (NLT), “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.” In the midst of these awful circumstances, we have to cling to the truth of who God is and that He is good, loving, and just. He is always with us, so we can put our hope and faith in Him during the pain and confusion, and remember to keep an eternal perspective. He's already proven to be great, so we can trust that He knows what He’s doing and His eternal purposes are still being accomplished. Even when it appears evil is temporarily winning, He works behind the scenes and will show up in big ways as His glory, power, and comfort are on full display. After all, we see this with the Son of God. Right before Jesus died on the cross, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). But as we know, God had a bigger plan that was being revealed and fulfilled through Jesus' death and ultimate resurrection. The same God who redeemed the cross redeems our pain and fills us with victorious hope. 1 John 5:4-5 (AMP) tells us, “For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our faith . Who is the One who is victorious and overcomes the world? It is the One who believes and recognizes the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.” Today, we must know that God doesn't cause evil, yet He's sovereign over all and we don't always understand why He allows certain things to happen. So, when we begin to ask, where is God, we must remind ourselves of the promise found in Romans 8:28 (AMP): "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.” And as we continue to live on this side of eternity following Jesus and relying on Him through confusing challenges and tragedies, we can boldly say, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff , they comfort and console me" (Psalm 23:4; AMP).
I'm Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I pray that the tragedies I personally experience and the ones experienced around the world draw us to You. Help us to see Your glory and power shine through as we persevere and heal. Please comfort us and give us strength. Fill us with hope as we trust in Your goodness and eternal purposes to be accomplished. Thank you for redeeming me and this evil world. I long to be with You both now and forever. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
In what ways are you asking the question, where is God right now?
In what ways do you wrestle with God's goodness, sovereignty, and purposes in the midst of tragedy, and what have you learned about this throughout your faith journey?
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