Last night, The College Football Playoff selection committee released their latest rankings and these are the top 8 teams:

1. Georgia

2. Michigan

3. Washington

4. Florida State

5. Oregon

6. Ohio State

7. Texas

8. Alabama

I can’t wait for the College Football Playoff to expand to 12 teams, but until they do, we get to predict and analyze which of these eight teams should and will make this year’s four-team playoff.

With plenty of big games this weekend and numerous unanswered questions, the discussion around the College Football Playoff is filled with hypothetical scenarios and lots of “what-if” questions on who will ultimately get in.

• What if Florida State and Oregon both lose – does Ohio State get in?
• What if Alabama beats Georgia?
• What if Iowa beats Michigan?
• What if Georgia and Florida State both lose and Michigan, Washington, Texas, and Alabama all win?
• What if Michigan beats Iowa, Alabama beats Georgia, Oregon beats Washington, Louisville beats FSU, and Oklahoma State beats Texas?

With numerous possibilities, winning combinations, and crazy scenarios potentially taking place this weekend, which teams will snag those four slots in the Playoff?

Analysts and fans will continue trying to figure it all out, but we’re just guessing at this point. Everybody’s head is spinning with the different odds of what might happen, leaving us with confusion and questions about the consequences of this team beating that team or that team beating this team. Thankfully, we’ll see it all unfold this weekend.

Of course, playing the “what-if game” can be fun for fans, but it can be harmful when this type of mentality takes over in our own lives.

Although planning and preparing are good to do, it can be debilitating when we’re consumed with “what-ifs” about our future when they’re wrapped in fear and anxiety. Many times these questions paralyze us from moving forward or stepping out in faith.

What if the money doesn’t come in? What if my company lays me off? What if my kids aren’t successful? What if we can’t get pregnant? What if I never get healed? What if I say no and then this happens, instead of that happening? What if I fail?

This type of thinking can be hard to avoid and they can be fair questions to consider, but we know when we focus too much on the “what-ifs,” it leads to worry and doubt while causing us to miss out on peace in our lives.

Instead of allowing the negative “what-ifs” to take over our minds and hearts, we can claim and cling to what it says in God’s Word.

Psalm 94:19 (NLT) declares, “When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”

Psalm 56:3 (NLT) says, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.”

Matthew 6:34 (TLB) tells us, “So don’t be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time.”

Ultimately, when we allow fear to take over, we’re not trusting God. When those anxious feelings begin to rise and the hypothetical questions drag us down, we must return to the truth that God is good, powerful, and loving.

The “what-if” game is harmless for college football fans, but when played in life, the questions can drive us to fear and worry. Today, let’s learn to let go and surrender…and find peace and hope as we trust God with our future.

Let’s choose to live out 1 Peter 5:6-7 (AMP): “Therefore humble yourselves under the Mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with the deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].”

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

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I confess there are times when I’m consumed with worry, anxiety, and fear as I wonder what might happen if my life goes a certain way. I pray I’ll find peace and hope in You as I trust You each step of the way. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.