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WEEK 15 BREAKOUT: THE SEASON'S REGRETS AND MISTAKES
- Bryce Johnson
- Dec 9, 2025
- 6 min read
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"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death." ―Luke 14:11 (NLT)
The Season's Regrets and Mistakes
With this being the start of the Fantasy playoffs for most leagues, only some teams in each league are still alive and competing for a Fantasy championship. For everyone who missed the playoffs, it’s time to reflect on the season and consider our moves and decisions.
As we know, Fantasy Football is humbling with the countless mistakes we make all season long. We realize it’s impossible to be perfect and make all the right choices. It's good to be humbled by our inadequacies and shortcomings as a Fantasy manager, but we must be careful not to allow it to drive us crazy by wallowing and playing the what-if game.
Now that the regular season has played out, for almost all of us, it’s easy to look back at our draft selections and roster moves and feel regret. We can’t believe we picked that player so early and thought he would be a star this year. When we think about the players we passed on the waiver wire or trades we rejected, we start to say, “What was I thinking?” or “I blew it,” or “I’m the worst!”
If our Fantasy team missed the playoffs or finished last, it’s easy to feel shame and embarrassment and believe we will never be good enough to win at Fantasy. We look at our mistakes and horrible decisions and wonder if we should play Fantasy Football anymore.
It’s hard to do everything right in Fantasy Football, and the reality is, if we had a bad season, we must learn from our mistakes, vow to change our approach next season, and be willing to forgive ourselves. It’s hard to let go of the what-ifs and the regrets, and although it’s good that we acknowledge where our season went wrong, we have to move forward. This lousy season doesn’t have to define us or cause us to give up. The good news is there is hope for a fresh start next season.
As we know, Fantasy Football isn’t the only part of our life that reminds us of our failures, mistakes, and shortcomings. It’s impossible for us to live a perfect life. If we’re honest, we know we have made plenty of poor choices and wrong decisions.
It’s good to be humbled by our inadequacies and shortcomings, but we must be careful not to allow them to cause us to remain stuck in wallowing, shame, embarrassment, and playing the what-if game. When we reflect on the “moves” we've made, we can find ourselves paralyzed by regret. We can’t believe we did certain things, and we start to say, “What was I thinking?” or “I blew it,” or “I’m the worst,” and think about how we will never be good enough. We look at our mistakes and horrible decisions and wonder if we should give up.
The truth is, all of this should drive us to our knees in surrender, as it’s all a reminder that we are sinful humans in need of a Savior. No, we will never be good enough on our own merit because we are the worst, undeserving, and fall short. But thankfully, by God’s love and Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can experience grace and forgiveness. Jesus meets us in our brokenness as He came to earth to save us and give us eternal life.
Romans 5:8 ESV says, “...but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 6:23 (AMP) explains, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
In 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NLT), Paul writes, “This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners'—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in Him and receive eternal life.”
As we follow Jesus, trust in Him, and realize how amazing His grace and offer of salvation are, we must also understand what it means to demonstrate His grace. As Jesus forgives us and shows us His grace, we show that grace to others and ourselves.
If we had a “bad season,” we must learn from our mistakes, repent, vow to change our approach, and be willing to forgive ourselves. It’s good we confess, acknowledge where we went wrong, and even grieve our sins, but we don’t have to remain in our shame.
Romans 8:1-2 (AMP) states, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior]. For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
The bad seasons and past mistakes don’t have to define us. The good news is that there is hope for a fresh start. Our identity isn’t wrapped up in what we’ve done but in who we are in Christ and in understanding that we rest in His righteousness.
Ephesians 1:7-8 (AMP) tells us, “In Him we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace which He lavished on us…”
Philippians 3:9 (NLT) says, “...I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith.”
Yes, it can be hard to let go of the regrets (in Fantasy and life), but as we place our faith in Jesus and rely on God’s power and the freedom He gives us, we can move forward in grace.
Heavenly Father, forgive me for my sin and all the ways I fall short. Thank you, Jesus, for meeting me in my brokenness and saving me. Thank you for Your grace and forgiveness. Please help me to forgive myself and not be paralyzed by shame and regret. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Overall, how would you rate how your team did this Fantasy season, and why?
What player do you regret not drafting?
What was the most disappointing part of your Fantasy season this year, and why?
What were your biggest mistakes and regrets?
Why is it essential that you first understand how sinful and broken you are before you can truly understand God's grace?
The Bible speaks of a "godly sorrow" and a "worldly sorrow." How would you describe the difference between the two? (Refer to 2 Corinthians 7)
Do you find it difficult to fully embrace the reality that no condemnation exists for those in Christ? Why or why not?
How can you ensure you don't repeat past sins?
What does it look like to have a healthy balance of feeling the weight of your sin while not wallowing in it?
What practical steps do you need to take to ensure that you are walking in the light of God's grace in such a way as to bring Him glory?
Tim Tebow is the only QB drafted by the Broncos to win a playoff game for them. All their Super Bowl wins have been with quarterbacks originally drafted by the Colts (John Elway and Peyton Manning).
Are you experiencing great weekly league meetings and
not wanting them to end when the football season ends?
We recommend plugging in with UNPACKIN' it, the ministry behind FFF. Your league could become a PACK (small group) and utilize our resources. Visit unpackinit.com/pack or email Bryce@unpackinit.com.
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