What an AWESOME Wildcard Weekend! Along with favored NFL teams like the Bucs and Saints getting the wins, and the Ravens and Bills winning their tight matchups, there were also surprises like the Rams knocking off the Seahawks and the Browns upsetting the Steelers. Both teams went on the road and overcame the odds to keep their seasons alive.

The Browns were without their head coach, Kevin Stefanski (due to Covid), and the Rams had multiple injury issues at their quarterback position. Nonetheless, the Browns were well-prepared and dominated from the get-go.

The Rams initially started quarterback, John Wolford, because normal starter, Jared Goff, had thumb surgery 12 days prior. He was still available to play, despite the sore thumb, so when John Wolford went down with a neck injury and was forced out of the game, Goff took over.

It was a crazy QB situation and in many ways, it’s shocking that the Rams were still able to beat the Seahawks. This was a Seattle team that had high hopes after playing so well to start the season, in addition to having one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Russell Wilson.

Of course, the Seahawks weren’t expecting the 30-20 loss to the Rams and head coach, Pete Carroll, had this to say after the game:

“I told these guys I have no place in my brain for this outcome. The suddenness of this is, there’s nothing like it. You just have to deal with it.”

It makes sense that Carroll and the Seahawks would be caught off guard by this outcome and have a hard time processing how they could have lost that game, but at the same time, it’s actually not that surprising.

The Rams already beat them back in November and they have a really tough defense, as well as, a run game that came on strong late in the season. The Seahawks may have been playing incredible football early on, but let’s not forget they also lost to the Giants in December.

Throw in the fact that Seattle has had disappointing and shocking losses in the playoffs before, although they didn’t see this one coming, they know this is part of the process.

There is a similar principle that is true in our own lives if we are followers of Jesus. Oftentimes, we receive shocking news or are faced with an outcome that is hard for us to wrap our minds around. We experience surprising losses and sudden, unexpected challenges.

However, much of the suffering we face actually shouldn’t catch us off guard when we realize that becoming more like Jesus means it’s part of the process.

1 Peter 4:12-16 (NLT) tells us, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world.

“If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by His name!”

The chapter ends with this in verse 19: “So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for He will never fail you.”

Challenges might catch us by surprise at first, but ultimately we can count on them happening. When we take a stand for Jesus and commit our lives to Him, we will experience suffering that has purpose and power in the midst of it.

Today, let’s remember that just like Jesus trusted God in the middle of His suffering, we, too, can know God will ultimately use it as part of His perfect plan. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to suffer for my sake on the cross. I desire to become more like Him, so please help me understand that suffering is part of my growth. I trust You in the midst of it. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.