Are You Convinced?

One of the reasons we love the NFL as much as we do is because of the week-to-week nature of the sport.

What’s included in the enjoyable weekly rhythm is also the changing of opinions after each game. The latest result often determines our beliefs about a particular team or player. We also know how quickly TV analysts change their thoughts week to week while they debate what’s true about each team.

After watching another entertaining Sunday of games, we, as fans, woke up today either convinced or not sure about what is true or untrue about specific teams’ situations. Here are a few things I’m certain of:

• I’m convinced the Bills or Chargers will represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.

  
  

• I’m convinced the Eagles can beat a team in many different ways and will make it back to the Super Bowl.

  
  

• I’m convinced the Colts are a remarkable story, but they need to beat a legit team before we consider them contenders.

  
  

• I’m convinced the Texans are going to have a really tough time turning this season around.

  
  

• I’m convinced that Kyle Shanahan can continue to win with Mac Jones at quarterback.

  
  

• I’m convinced Matthew Stafford is really struggling with his accuracy.

  
  

• I’m convinced the Cowboys can’t win much without CeeDee Lamb.

  
  

• I’m convinced the Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. connection isn't working out.

  
  

I could go on and on, discussing my NFL convictions, the beliefs I’m certain about after week 3, and the “hot takes” I’m most confident in. I’m sure you agree with some of the above, but others you don’t have a firm conviction about.

The reality is, though, that in football, situations change all the time, and what we think to be true one week can quickly be challenged the next. We then often flip-flop, and what we were once sure about is now doubted and questioned.

At the same time, there are key truths and beliefs about winning football that we, as fans, remain deeply sure of and confident in. Some examples include:

• We’re convinced teams must have a reliable quarterback.

  
  

• We’re convinced that teams must have a coach they trust and follow.

  
  

• We’re convinced a team has to win the turnover battle consistently.

  
  

• We’re convinced a team’s defense has to get stops when the game is on the line.

Our minds may change about specific teams or players each week, but there are truths about football that we can always be sure about.

When it comes to life and faith, what are we convinced of?

What are we sure about?

What are our convictions?

Do those change week to week?

Do situations change our minds?

Do outcomes dictate what we believe to be true?

There's no question that throughout life our thoughts, opinions, and beliefs about certain things change. We mature, grow in understanding, and gain new information.

As followers of Jesus, however, there are truths that we can remain certain, convinced, and confident about, regardless of the situations we face or the changes in circumstances that occur around us.

We can be certain that Jesus never changes and God’s Word is always true.

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV) declares, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Psalm 119:160 (ESV) says, “The sum of Your Word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever.”

Proverbs 30:5 (ESV) tells us, “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

As followers of Jesus, we can also be confident and convinced that God loves us, and we can be sure that when we are in Christ, we will live forever and spend eternity with Him.

Paul writes in Romans 8:38-39 (NIV), “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Jesus tells us in John 10:28-29 (AMP), “And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

While continuing to live on earth in this broken world as imperfect humans, we will wrestle with our faith at times, we will struggle with temptations, and experience suffering.

However…

• We can be confident in turning to God in prayer, as it says in 1 John 5:14 (ESV): “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.”

• We can be convinced that God will do what He promises, like Abraham was when he was told he’d be the father of many nations. Romans 4:19-21 (ESV) tells us, “He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

• We can also be certain that God will continue His work in us. Paul writes in Philippians 1:6 (ESV), “And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Today, let’s examine what we believe to be true and be encouraged to consider whether we’re living with confidence, conviction, and faith that God loves us and has given us eternal life through the sacrifice and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.

Let’s ask God to help our challenged beliefs and “weekly doubts” and empower our actions to reflect how we are convinced that He is real and His Word is true.

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

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me overcome my unbelief and doubts, and grant me the conviction and confidence to believe in Your Word, Your love, and Your promises. I know I can be sure that my eternity is secure in Christ, so help me to live that way. I’m convinced You’re working in me and You hear my prayers. I’m so grateful for Jesus and the assurance He provides for my soul. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.