In the midst of so much negativity, I'd like to begin our week with an encouraging story about the Carolina Panthers' new starting quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater.
As a player worth rooting for this season, Teddy played his college football at Louisville, and in 2015, was the starting quarterback for the 11-5 Minnesota Vikings (during his second year in the NFL). He was also named to the Pro Bowl and the Vikings made the playoffs.
Then right before the following season began, during a non-contact practice play on August 30, 2016, Teddy tore his ACL and dislocated his knee.
The doctor who performed his surgery described it this way: “It was just a horribly grotesque injury...It's mangled...You make the skin incision, and there's nothing there. It's almost like a war wound. Everything is blown."
The doctor also explained, "This surgery was an absolute gut test, a test of what you're made of, and I've seen it break people down. I never saw it break Teddy down. Most people have no idea the volume of the workload this kid had to put in. He had a toothpick of a leg he had to rebuild."
His story went from facing the possibility of needing his leg amputated to missing almost two seasons of football before returning to a game in 2017 with the Vikings, then signing as a backup in 2018 with the Jets.
He was quickly traded to the Saints and backed up Drew Brees, then in relief work, he went 5-0 as a starter in 2019. He is now the starting quarterback for the Panthers after signing a $63 million contract.
Teddy’s perspective on his incredible comeback story is truly inspiring. Yesterday he tweeted the following:
One year after the injury, in the middle of his comeback, look what he tweeted:
The fact that Teddy is back on the football field (especially as a starter), is remarkable! But the way he focused on having a positive, joyful, persevering, and thankful perspective throughout his challenging injuries and recovery is the biggest takeaway for us today.
The attitude that helped carry him through is the principle found in Proverbs 17:22: "A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.”
So, whether we’re encountering our own physical challenges or financial, relational, and emotional trials, we all face the same decision.
What kind of approach and perspective are we going to have? Are we going to question God and get mad at our situation...or are we going to choose joy, thankfulness, and hope?
It’s not easy to be positive and want to persevere when life gets “mangled” up, but as followers of Jesus, we don’t have to let our devastating circumstances keep us down because we can keep looking up.
Jesus told His disciples before He returned to heaven, in John 14:27 (NLT), “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
Our own strength will fail us and the world will try to steal our peace, but we can choose to keep persevering with thankfulness as we cling to Jesus and depend on Him to carry us through.
Today let’s decide to “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; NLT).
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of peace. Please help me to remain joyful and optimistic as I choose to persevere during difficult trials. I desire to be thankful even when life gets mangled up because I know You are good and will never leave me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
When has your life been the most "mangled" and how did you respond? In what ways did God move?
What aspect of Teddy Bridgewater's story and perspective is most inspiring to you today?
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