Stay the Course or Move On?

As 14 teams prepare for the NFL Playoffs, the teams that missed the postseason are evaluating what changes they need to make to improve their franchises moving forward.

Many team owners are deciding whether to fire their head coach and/or general manager or to stay the course. They must choose between giving up on the current regime and going in a different direction, or giving it more time.

In one of the more shocking developments, the Baltimore Ravens moved on from Super Bowl-winning head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons. He instantly became a top candidate for head-coaching vacancies around the league and may even be an option for other teams looking to upgrade from their current coach.

With Harbaugh and the Ravens making a significant change, the coaching carousel is fully in motion, and teams are navigating pivotal decisions about their next steps. 

When looking across the league, here is what we know so far:

• The Las Vegas Raiders fired head coach Pete Carroll after one season.

  
  

• The Tennessee Titans and New York Giants have openings after their coaches, Brian Callahan and Brian Daboll, were let go during the season.

  
  

• The Falcons are moving on from both head coach Raheem Morris and GM Terry Fontenot.

  
  

• The Cleveland Browns parted ways with head coach Kevin Stefanski, and he has become a top candidate for other teams.

  
  

• The Cardinals are going a different direction without head coach Jonathan Gannon.

  
  

• It looks like the Dolphins will stay the course with head coach Mike McDaniel, but they are searching for a new GM after firing Chris Grier midseason.

• The Giants will keep GM Joe Schoen…for now.

• The Colts decided to keep head coach Shane Steichen and GM Chris Ballard, despite missing the playoffs again.

  
  

I have always been fascinated by the coaching carousel. It's interesting to see how some teams believe that moving on is the right move. In contrast, others believe that riding it out longer with the current leadership will eventually yield more wins.

While we follow the NFL coaching decisions, the start of a new calendar year encourages us to evaluate our lives and determine what changes we need to make.

Is this the year we change jobs, move houses, or eliminate certain activities? Is it time to join or leave something? Should we step back or step up? Do we invest more in certain relationships?

We face looming potential changes and must decide whether to stay the course, hang on, and remain committed, or give up, move on, and let go. Sometimes, what we need to do is clear, but other times, we wrestle with whether to give something more time or say enough is enough.

As followers of Jesus, we hope to experience continual transformation in our character as we become more like Him. We should obey when He reveals the changes needed in our behavior and the sins we must repent of.

When it comes to other life-altering changes, such as a job or a house, are we also leaning on Him for wisdom and guidance? Are we praying earnestly to Him, asking Him to show us where He wants us to be and how He wants to use us for His purposes? Do we obey when we get our answer?

There are times when He will reveal that we need to stay the course, and other times when He'll make it evident that a change is required.

My encouragement for us as we start the new year and desire to make positive changes so that our lives are fruitful and glorifying to Him is to continue asking God to help us make decisions that align with Him.

Philippians 4:6 (AMP) tells us, "Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God."

1 John 5:14 (NLT) says, "And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him."

As we navigate tough choices, let's ask Him for discernment and clarity to follow His will, remembering He loves us, cares about us, and knows and sees things we don't.

Thankfully, in Psalm 32:8 (NLT), "The Lord says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'"

When we are wrestling with what to do and trying to decide between staying the course or making the change, James 1:5 (AMP) lets us know: "If any of you lacks wisdom, he is to ask of  God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him."

This year, let's ask for wisdom to make the right choices that honor God. Whether that means hanging on a little longer or moving on, let's trust He will empower and strengthen us as we depend on Him.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for guiding me and revealing the next steps You want me to take. I pray I discern the Holy Spirit's promptings to know the best direction. Thank you for working with me when I stay the course and for giving me strength when I need to change. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.