UNPACK This...Keep on PrayingSample

What Is He Doing? The NBA Draft is always a wild adventure for fans, as it's routinely filled with out-of-nowhere trades, shocking picks, and head-scratching decisions by general managers. One of our favorite questions to ask about a general manager is, “What is he doing?” Even though as fans we don’t have all of the information, we still moan and complain about our favorite team’s front-office decisions because we want to know if the GM is taking our favorite team in the right direction. This presents a great parallel between the mindsets of fans during the NBA Draft and how we respond to the way God answers our prayers. The main difference is that many NBA GMs don’t know what they’re doing, whereas God is all-knowing and all-powerful, and His plans are perfect. However, that doesn’t stop us from sometimes complaining to God when we don’t understand why He isn’t answering our prayers the way we desire. We moan and complain, struggling to trust God’s leading. In Psalm 77:8-9, Asaph lamented, as he was troubled over his circumstances and a perceived lack of intervention from God: “Has His steadfast love forever ceased? Are His promises at an end for all time? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His compassion?” Yet in his sorrow and confusion, Asaph chose to think about the character and nature of God to help maintain his trust in God’s leading: “Then I said, ‘I will appeal to this, to the years of the right hand of the Most High.’ I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old” (Psalm 77:10-11). Even when we don’t understand what God is doing, we can think about who God is and remind ourselves how He has been faithful in the past. Upon doing so, we'll learn to better trust Him in our prayers, knowing He has a plan that is for our good and His purpose. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, remind me of all of the wonderful things You’ve already done in my life and help me to keep thinking about who You are. I know You are with me and will make a pathway clear in Your time. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.