40-year-old Matt Nagy (former quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs) is a first-year head coach for the Chicago Bears.

With a young quarterback, Mitch Trubisky, and a roster that has some promise, the Bears are 1-1 after a one-point loss to the Packers in Week 1 and a 24-17 win against the Seahawks on Monday night.

Both games were on national TV and NFL fans across the country have now been introduced to Nagy and the new look Bears.

As a first time NFL head coach, Nagy has to prove that he deserves the job while he attempts to create a culture and a standard for his team. He wants to put his fingerprints on the franchise and establish his style of play.

This doesn’t happen overnight and it can be tempting to get caught up in the moment, react to the pressure, or coach in a way that is simply safe and conventional.

However, Nagy is a coach with an individualized skill set and perspective on the game. He isn’t former Bears coach Mike Ditka or his former boss Andy Reid…he’s Matt Nagy. He’s been put in this position because of who he is.

In the middle of a tight game or during a challenging drive, it’s particularly important that he doesn’t feel pressured to perform like other head coaches, but sticks to the way he’s uniquely designed and wired to coach.

As you can see in today’s photo (above), Nagy reminds himself of this truth with the words “Be You” written on his playsheet. This may seem trite or cheesy, but the principle is valuable for coaches, as well as, for each of us.

God, the creator, has uniquely designed and wired us. Even though we sometimes try to be someone or something that we aren’t, we only thrive when we understand what it means to “Be You.” He has given us a specific role in His family and provides us with special gifts to accomplish His will and purposes.

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

We can’t allow outside pressure, circumstances, or the temptation to conform to culture dictate our identity or perspective on who we are. As followers of Jesus, we are united with God, we are His children, and we are fully loved. Because of that we can confidently and freely “Be You.”

When we feel we’re being pulled in another direction to please others or pretend to be someone we’re not, let’s ask this question: “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:10 – ESV).

We should be grateful that God has called us and equipped us to live according to the way He has individually designed and wired us. This prayer found in Psalm 139:14-16 (NLT) gives us great peace and thankfulness as we reflect on our magnificent Creator:

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”

Today, let’s not feel less than or like we need to be anyone other than ourselves. Instead, let’s remember to simply “Be You!”

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the way You designed and wired me, and please forgive me for the times I get caught up in trying to be someone I’m not. Help me live with a genuine understanding of my personal gifts and skill sets that can be used for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.