Returning to the Well

The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft concluded on Thursday evening with the typical combination of predictable picks and shocking selections.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward was taken first overall by the Tennessee Titans, as expected by most people heading into the evening.

Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars created a gigantic buzz just seconds after the No. 1 pick was announced, as they gave up a bevy of draft picks to move up three spots to take Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter second overall.

The remainder of the first round continued similarly, with many teams making selections that seemed reasonable given their particular areas of need. In contrast, others opted for a drastically different direction than expected.

One team that has been somewhat predictable and consistent in the draft process over the past handful of seasons is the Philadelphia Eagles. Led by a strategy that seems to emphasize selecting players from high-profile college programs, the Eagles have been able to stockpile talent and build a championship roster.

That trend from the Eagles continued in 2025, as the team selected Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell with its first selection yesterday evening.

In his write-up explaining why the Eagles made the selection that they did, ESPN's Tim McManus wrote, "The Eagles have had plenty of success drafting from top programs like Alabama and Georgia in recent seasons, and they went to the well again by moving up to select the Tide's Campbell."

I love that Philadelphia has found a strategy that has worked well for them and decided to stick with it.

While many organizations and general managers can succumb to overthinking their decisions or trying to be too clever by taking a diamond in the rough, the Eagles have returned to the same well over and over again because they know that doing so has yielded tremendous results.

Each of us wants to experience growth in our relationship with the Lord. We desire to deepen our understanding of the Bible, cultivate communion with God, and pursue personal holiness.

Unfortunately, however, sometimes we miss out on our intended goals because we veer off the path that is tried and tested.

In our zeal for growth, we can sometimes seek a quick fix for the challenges we face. We can start to think that our spiritual life will flourish if we can attend the right conference, read the correct book, listen to the perfect sermon, or find the "secret" key to overcoming a particular temptation.

And while many of the things I just listed are potentially good activities to participate in, we must recognize that there is no substitute for finding growth by "returning to the well."

The typical experience for followers of Jesus is that growth in our walk of faith will come incrementally as we consistently commit ourselves to fellowshipping with Him and engaging in the means God has provided for our growth.

We will begin to see incremental growth as we commit ourselves daily to spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading, Scripture memorization, prayer, biblical meditation, Christian fellowship, fasting, giving, and serving.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (ESV) says, "Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Just as the Eagles did not build a championship contender simply by making one good selection, we do not experience significant growth as followers of Jesus by making just one individual decision. Instead, it is through the process of "returning to the well" repeatedly over a prolonged period that the intended results are achieved.

Ultimately, these spiritual disciplines help us experience growth because their primary objective is to direct our hearts toward God, our true "well."

In Jeremiah 2:13 (NASB), God rebukes the nation of Israel for abandoning Him by saying, "For My people have committed two evils: They have abandoned Me, the fountain of living waters, to carve out for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that do not hold water."

When we try to run to any other "well" besides God for purpose, meaningful growth, joy, peace, or satisfaction, we ultimately end up dry and thirsting for more.

Today, let's resolve to keep "returning to the well." Let's commit to continually seeking God through the spiritual disciplines He has graciously given us, so that we might respond like the psalmist describes the singers and musicians in Psalm 87:7 (NASB), who proclaim, "All my springs of joy are in You."

I'm Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please help me be disciplined and demonstrate perseverance and endurance in my life of faith. Teach me to continuously turn to You so I might experience true growth that brings You glory. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.