Better Communication

It’s only been two weeks into the NFL season, but the teams that are 0-2 are feeling the heat already, with frustration and disappointment setting in.

One of the teams with significant pressure, concerns, and negative rumblings heading into the season was the Miami Dolphins. Now, their season has gotten off to a rough start with a Week 1, 33-8 blowout loss to the Colts and a discouraging 33-27 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.

In some ways, the Dolphins looked better in Week 2, which put them in a position to win the game. They actually had the ball on the final drive, but instead of executing, they missed the opportunity. They find themselves 0-2 with a Thursday night matchup against the Bills looming.

One of the main concerns with the Dolphins has been how they aren’t entirely on the same page or clicking the way they need to. The failed final drive revealed a significant issue with the communication between coaches and players.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa told the media after the game, “It was frustrating with the communication, with the guys inside the huddle, and then what the personnel is, then the play for those guys. Do we have too many guys in, why do we have another guy running in? Just the whole operation of that was not up to standard, was not up to par, and I’ve got to do a better job with our guys in that sense.”

He also added, “We have until the 15-second mark until it cuts off with the communication with [coach] Mike [McDaniel], so depending on what the personnel is, depending on what we were trying to do there, if it was a wristband call or if it was a call it in the headset; there’s a lot of things in that sense that play a role in if we’re getting to the right things or if we’re not getting to the right things. That was sort of the mix-up of communication there.”

There’s no denying how critical communication is in football. Head coaches communicate with their coordinators, coaches communicate with the players, and players communicate with their teammates. They discuss which plays to run, who is responsible for what, who needs to be on the field, and what the situation requires.

When communication is off, unclear, or lacking, it results in mistakes, frustration, confusion, and disappointment. When a team isn’t communicating well, it’s not surprising when they’re 0-2.

Just like in football, communication is key in every aspect of life. How are we speaking to other people, and how are we listening? Is our communication with our spouse, kids, co-workers, friends, or neighbors off, unclear, or lacking? Is it leading to mistakes, frustration, confusion, and disappointment?

Is our communication based on truth, trust, humility, and intentionality? In what ways are we miscommunicating and not on the same page? What adjustments do we need to make?

Most importantly, how is our communication with God?

Thankfully, as followers of Jesus, we can have an ongoing conversation with God and have the incredible joy of communicating with Him through prayer by speaking and listening. He communicates with us and speaks to our hearts and minds in multiple ways, primarily through His Word, wise people, and the Holy Spirit. Are we hearing clearly?

Jesus refers to His followers as sheep and says in John 10:27 (AMP)

“The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me.”

As followers of Jesus, we continue to turn to Him, talk to Him, and listen to Him, and rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us when it comes to communicating effectively with other people.

When we listen well, He reveals what to do and equips us to know what to say, when to say it, and how to say it, which is especially crucial when communicating with nonbelievers.

Paul provides us with great encouragement about our prayer life and also how we speak about Christ to others, as he writes in Colossians 4:2-6 (AMP):

“Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving. At the same time, pray for us, too, that God will open a door [of opportunity] to us for the word, to proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have been imprisoned; that I may make it clear [and speak boldly and unfold the mystery] in the way I should.

“Conduct yourself with wisdom in your interactions with outsiders (nonbelievers), make the most of each opportunity [treating it as something precious]. Let your speech at all times be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you will know how to answer each one [who questions you].”

Today, if we are like the Miami Dolphins, struggling with our communication with God and others, let’s acknowledge that, repent from any sin in our lives, draw close to the Lord, ask Him for help, and open our hearts to listen before speaking.

Let’s be encouraged to get on the same page with God and experience a vibrant, devoted, fruitful, and earnest prayer life as we seek Him intentionally.

Let’s also boldly communicate the good news of Jesus as opportunities arise.

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

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I desire to hear Your voice more clearly. Please help me to listen better and communicate more effectively with You and others. Please help me not to miss out on opportunities because of miscommunication or a lack of communication. I pray that I’d rely on the Holy Spirit to guide me into truth. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.