On January 24, 2021, the NFC Championship game was held in Green Bay, Wisconsin, between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers. This matchup was exciting, you had a most likely candidate for the MVP of the NFL in Aaron Rogers at quarterback for the Green Bay Packers and the undisputed greatest quarterback of all-time in Tom Brady, a.k.a. “The Goat,” squaring off for the right to play in the Super Bowl on February 7, 2021.
In the 4th quarter, towards the end of the game, the Green Bay Packers were losing by 8 points. They were on the goal line of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They had just squandered a 3rd downplay, so now it was 4th down. Your team is losing by 8 points with only a couple of minutes left in the game.
What do you do?
You have the greatest quarterback of all-time on the other team. Do you attempt to score a touchdown and then go for the 2 point conversion to tie the game, or should you try a field goal for 3 points, leaving you a 5 point deficit? The second option, which is what was chosen, left the Green Bay Packers hoping that with three timeouts and the two-minute warning, that their opponent, led by the greatest quarterback of all-time would somehow relinquish their possession of the football and the Packers back the ball with enough time to win the game?
The Packers chose the latter and never got the ball back and ended up losing the game. Millions of fans worldwide are still scratching their heads as to why they didn’t go for it on 4th down, especially with the MVP of the league at the helm! There are no do-overs, so you must live with your choices and expect to be haunted by your decisions for the rest of your life. Of course, the coach’s plans could have turned out the other way, and they could have gotten the ball back and marched down the field and won the game, but that is not what happened.
In the mainstream of life, all of us will be faced with many 4th and goals. How do you manage your 4th and goals? Do you go for it, keeping control of the situation, and boldly risk it all? Or do you play it safe, take the easy points, and hope that life somehow gives you another chance to win?
The reality is if you are approaching your 4th and goals with honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness to make the right play, and seeking wise counsel for guidance and assurance, then you can trust your play calling and let the chips fall where they may. The results may not always seem to go your way, but you can lift your head and walk with confidence, knowing that you did the best you could, and the result wasn’t because of your lack of effort to win.
God should always be the first we call on and not the last resort. Many times in life, when we are sitting on 4th and goal, we try everything else before desperately calling out to the One who has all power, and that One is God. The strategy “if all else fails, let’s pray” should be squashed once and for all. Even if we don’t exercise the play with perfection and are not happy with the final score, God can take that experience and bless countless others with it, and of course, we will always be blessed in return.
The Green Bay Packers and football fans will forever be debating the elusive 4th and Goal against the Buccaneers, and mostly not in a positive way. Please do yourself a huge favor, and ensure that when others discuss your 4th and Goal story, they use it as an example and not a warning. Having God as your quarterback, the Son as your wide receiver, and the Holy Spirit as your offensive line, well, let’s say, win or lose, you will be satisfied with the results. When God is your quarterback, you will never fail.
Lord, I realize I will face many more 4th and Goals in my lifetime. I know I will watch the people I dearly love face many 4th and Goals, along with countless friends and acquaintances. Please give me the strength to lean on You for all my needs, especially my 4th and Goals. In Your Spirt and Name, I pray these things. Amen.
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