_edited.jpg)
Without exception, there are instant reactions and overreactions to how NFL players performed during their first week of the season. As Fantasy managers, we have our first glance at our team, and some of our players didn't do what we hoped they would.
Our first-round draft picks were total letdowns, some wide receivers weren't involved in the passing game, a few quarterbacks didn’t throw any touchdowns, and many top running backs weren’t able to gain over 100 yards rushing.
It’s always fun to see our players do awesome in week 1 and justify why we drafted them, but unfortunately, there are NFL teams whose offenses didn't look as high-powered as anticipated, and many players on our Fantasy rosters who underperformed and disappointed us.
Of course, some managers saw their players dominate right away and enjoyed jumping out to an early lead in the standings. However, the bottom line is, that all of us have certain players who didn't emerge as instant Fantasy stars and give us the results we wanted. So what do we do?
We have to be patient and trust that they will get things going eventually and will demonstrate why we put our faith in them on draft day. It’s especially true for rookies who often don’t start contributing in big ways until later in the season, so we must be patient and trust that their talent will ultimately shine through.
Expecting everything to go our way in week 1 and every player on our roster to have a huge performance is unrealistic. So instead of getting frustrated or making drastic changes to our teams, we must choose to trust the key players we drafted and remain patient with them. When we do, we'll reap the rewards of sticking with our guys through the early season when there's a lack of scoring and a delay in putting up big points. They will show us why they were worth waiting on.
Patience is needed in Fantasy Football and is required even more so in life. The challenge is, that we want instant results, we don’t like to wait for anything, and we want things to go our way right away. We want to immediately experience huge blessings after praying for something and expect no delays!
When the “high-scoring performances” aren’t happening in life, are we likely to get frustrated, discouraged, give up quickly, and become impatient, resulting in drastic moves and poor decisions? Or do we choose to be patient and trust that God is working, His timing is best, and He'll come through in the right way according to His will?
It’s hard to be patient, especially if we try to do so in our own strength. Thankfully, as followers of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit living within us and when we yield to Him, He empowers us with patience.
Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) tells us, “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
I love the definition of patience in the Amplified translation: “Not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting.” So how do we normally act while waiting for God to answer prayers? Are we calmly and confidently surrendered to Him as we wait for things to click and become clear? Is our hope in Him, His character, and His power regardless of the results? Do we stand firm during delays and trust that He’ll reveal His faithfulness and goodness and remind us why we put our faith in Him?
Romans 12:12 (ESV) implores us to “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Romans 8:25 (ESV) explains, “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Instead of acting hastily or getting anxious and responding poorly when things take longer than we thought, we must continue to trust that God is moving and He's worth waiting on. In the meantime, we keep doing the right things as we seek, pray, and obey.
Galatians 6:9 (ESV) says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.”
Psalm 27:14 (NLT) encourages us to “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
Of course, as Fantasy managers, we want to win right away. But, it's a long season and some of our best players require us to wait on them, so let's be patient. Likewise, of course, we want our prayers answered right away, but some of our best blessings require us to wait on them, so let's be patient.
What player is already testing your patience?
What player did you know going into the season you’d have to be patient with?
What mistakes happen in Fantasy Football when you allow impatience to take over?
What area of your life is testing your patience?
In what ways have you seen God come through, but it required a season of waiting?
What are the benefits of being patient instead of being anxious, impatient, and frustrated?
"Of course, as Fantasy managers, we want to win right away. But, it's a long season and some of our best players require us to wait on them, so let's be patient. Likewise, of course, we want our prayers answered right away, but some of our best blessings require us to wait on them, so let's be patient." - Bryce Johnson, Fantasy Football Fellowship
The original Fantasy Football scoring system included fullbacks, return specialists, and individual defensive players. (NFL.com)