Try Something Different

The NFL Playoffs were once again fantastic, as the Divisional Round delivered two overtime games, controversial calls, wild plays, and gutsy performances. The teams that won move on to Championship weekend, while the teams that lost face fallout.

This reality is especially significant for the Buffalo Bills, who fired head coach Sean McDermott Monday morning after their disappointing overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. The Bills entered the playoffs under pressure to reach the Super Bowl and ultimately win it.

Of course, “Bills Mafia” has desired a Super Bowl win for many years, but expectations have been high recently, considering their quarterback, Josh Allen, is one of, if not the best, quarterbacks in the league. Things appeared to be lining up for him and the Bills this year, with the Chiefs, Ravens, and Bengals all missing the playoffs.

However, once again, the Bills came up empty and didn’t accomplish what they set out to do. The Bills have reached at least the divisional round for six straight years, and two of those years made it to the AFC Championship game. It’s been heartbreaking and disappointing to see the Bills have chances to win, only for the outcome to remain the same.

McDermott has been a great coach for the Bills throughout his nine seasons, but it’s time they try something different. McDermott has been Josh Allen’s only head coach, and although they’ve won an impressive amount of games together, they haven’t maximized playoff opportunities or gotten over the hump into the Super Bowl. McDermott holds the NFL record as a head coach for the most playoff wins (8) without reaching the Super Bowl.

The bottom line, Sean McDermott’s way of doing things just isn’t working in the playoffs, and the Bills are finally willing to go another direction. Josh Allen will now listen to someone with a different approach, who will hopefully help the Bills reach the next level and make the most of Allen’s prime.

As we reflect on the Bills today, I wonder how many of us have felt stuck, had our efforts come up empty, and realized that the way we’ve been doing things isn’t working.

We seem to be taking the same approach that is leading to similar outcomes we don’t desire. The truth is, it’s time for us to try something different.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is about the disciples going out to fish and coming up empty until Jesus showed up. Their way led to bad results that night, but once He stepped in and told them what they needed to do, and they listened to Him, they experienced a different outcome.

John 21 (NLT) shares this story about Jesus showing up after the resurrection: “Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. This is how it happened. Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples. Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’

"‘We’ll come, too,’ they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn, Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who He was. He called out, ‘Fellows, have you caught any fish?’ ‘No,’ they replied. Then He said, ‘Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!’

"So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It’s the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore.”

Only Jesus could demonstrate that kind of miraculous power in that situation, so the disciples knew it was Him. It’s an amazing reminder of what happens when Jesus takes over and tells us to do something different. When we obey Jesus and allow Him to enter every area of our lives, especially where we’ve come up empty, things change.

Unfortunately, many of us remain stubborn or foolish, doing things our way over and over, even though our efforts aren’t working. So if we find ourselves “fruitless in the playoffs,” are we going to do something about it?

Are we willing to acknowledge our weaknesses and how we keep coming up empty in certain areas of our lives, and that the same struggles keep repeating year after year?

Like the Bills, it’s time for a new approach. Are we ready to try something different, to totally surrender to Jesus, and to stop doing things our way and in our own strength? Will we listen to Him when He tells us to “throw our net in a different direction”?

Today, let’s ask Jesus to take our faith to a new level, transform our hearts, and renew our minds with His miraculous power. Let’s ask Him for wisdom and guidance in the specific struggles we face, asking Him to be our strength and help us try something different.

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

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank You for sending Jesus to save me and also to transform my life. Please show me the areas of my life where I’m still doing things my way, and strengthen me to do them differently so they align with You. My ways and my power leave me empty, while victories, blessings, and growth come through Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.