Don't Force It

Fantasy Football draft season is here, and as Fantasy managers, we are determining our draft strategy and how we want to structure our roster.

Once we are in the middle of the draft and each time we are on the clock, we face particular dilemmas that pop up as a result of how other managers are drafting.

There are times during a draft when we feel pressure to take a certain position because we have a need, and a run of tight ends or quarterbacks is being selected right before our pick. We feel like we have to draft that position right away.

However, it may be the case that the more valuable and better pick is actually a running back or wide receiver in that round. There is a temptation to force ourselves to take a QB or TE too early when it’s wiser to wait a round or two.

One of the key things we want to avoid while drafting is selecting a player too soon or choosing someone we aren’t necessarily as high on, simply because we feel we need to fill a position with the pick we have. In other words, we don’t want to force it.

Instead, as we draft, we must remain disciplined so we aren’t impatient and take the wrong player at the wrong time.

To maximize our draft, we must strive to select the right player at the right time, even if it means waiting until later in the draft to acquire our quarterback or tight end. We can’t let the pressure of feeling like we must get a specific position early force us into a bad selection.

At other times during a draft, we force a pick when we want certain players so badly that we reach for them instead of waiting to select them in a later round, when it’s more advantageous for us.

Another scenario is when a player who might be ranked high continues to be available in the draft longer than expected, but we don’t trust the player either. We have a choice to force ourselves to take a guy because we think we should, just based on his ranking, instead of being wise and passing on him.

When it comes to our lives, we know what it’s like to feel pressure and have “needs at a position” or desire something and face the temptation to act on it hastily.

Sometimes, “we have to draft a quarterback,” such as getting a job, finding a spouse, moving to a new house, finding a group of friends, or jumping into a serving opportunity.

All of those are good things, but it can become a problem when we “force it” and try to make something happen in our own strength and limited understanding that isn’t God’s best or the right timing.

Unfortunately, there are situations when we settle for something that isn’t the right fit and rush into something because of impatience.

We should learn to stop trying to force things to happen or attempt to force God to do something we think has to happen when, ultimately, He has a much better plan for us.

We must allow God to work in our situation, prepare us, and orchestrate the details. The reality is that it requires trust, wisdom, and patience to experience God’s right fit and timing.

Psalm 37:3-5 (ESV) encourages us to “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”

As we follow Jesus and desire to do God’s will while being led by the Spirit, let’s discern what’s best instead of allowing pressure to get the best of us. Just like in a Fantasy draft, what we don’t want to do is unnecessarily force something.

So today, let’s choose patience as we trust God to provide and guide as we echo Micah 7:7 (AMP): “But as for me, I will look expectantly for the Lord and with confidence in Him I will keep watch; I will wait [with confident expectation] for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.”

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

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, forgive me for my impatience and attempts to make things happen by forcing something. Please help me trust You and Your plans as I wait patiently for Your best. I don’t want to settle for anything less. I pray that I would delight in You as I confidently wait with expectation for You to accomplish Your will. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.