UNPACK This...Persevering With PurposeSample

I Turned Off The Game

During the 2022 NFL season, quarterback Baker Mayfield signed with the Los Angeles Rams on a Tuesday, with the team preparing for a Thursday night contest against the Raiders. Though he had only one practice with the team, Mayfield ended up starting the game.

As expected, given the circumstances, the offense struggled for the first three quarters, with the Rams trailing 13-3. Though I watched the game's beginning, I turned it off since I doubted things would change.

Unfortunately, I woke up the next morning to find out I had turned off the game too soon! Mayfield orchestrated an exciting comeback, and the Rams wound up winning 17-16.

As sports fans, it’s always disappointing to miss the miracle finish. But how often have we found ourselves in a similar situation when it comes to other areas of our lives?

Most of us have experienced situations where we “turned off the game too soon,” and our lack of faith caused us to give up early instead of hanging on longer.

Yet, we must persevere and endure even when everything seems unlikely to turn around because God is worthy to be trusted.

Jesus says in Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Though we can never presume that God will always change our circumstances in the way we desire, we want to have faith that He is more than able.

While we keep watching and waiting for Him, we can be challenged by Psalm 31:24: “Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!”

As followers of Jesus, we must endure until the very end rather than give up and miss a potential miracle finish.

James 5:11 gives us this encouraging reminder: “We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. For instance, you know about Job, a man of great endurance. You can see how the Lord was kind to him at the end, for the Lord is full of tenderness and mercy.”

I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please give me the strength I need to endure. I trust that You can do the impossible. Help me persevere as I wait for You to show up. You are worthy to be trusted. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.