R-E-L-A-X

20 October, 2014

For all my fellow Packer addicts, you know exactly where this phrase comes from. Star quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, spelled the word ‘relax’ after a single loss, telling fans to sit back, calm down, and trust he could handle everything. One little setback does not set the tone of an entire season, and Rodgers was confident of his skills and work ethic, knowing he could lead the Packers to greatness. And boy, did it work. The next four games, the Packers dominated the field, winning victory each time. Rodgers threw the ball with ease; the Packers had touchdown after touchdown. The fans went wild every game, telling each other they had faith in Rodgers from the beginning.

But, many did not. After Rodgers first stated the ‘relax’ comment, it was all over the news, angering fans. They called Rodgers cocky and overly confident. They had no faith in his ability to lead the Packers after the comment, getting frustrated with their beloved Packers and dropping the blame on Rodgers’ shoulders. But, within the next game, He proved them wrong, changing their spirits from anger to joy. Four games ago, many weren’t happy with the Packers. Today, after their fourth straight win, you’re not likely to find a Wisconsinite without a smile on their face (that is, unless they’re confused and are pretending to be Bears fans). ;)

The Aaron Rodgers scandal is a lot like our relationship with Jesus. Jesus tells His followers not to worry. He tells those who love Him not to stress over the little things, such as what to wear or what to do tomorrow, claiming He will handle each concern. Jesus says we have nothing to fret about except for knowing God and loving God. But, what about when things aren’t going as planned? What if we don’t know where we belong? What if our health isn’t well? What if we’re confused about the future? Is Jesus actually there to help us? Will He actually do what the Bible says, or do we have to take things into our own hands?

The Word of God is truth, and as little humans, our own strength is limited and fallible. Unlike Jesus, we can’t see the future, we don’t know where we belong, and we don’t understand His perfect plan for us and our families. It can be hard to hand Jesus our mess of a life on a silver platter and trust He knows best, just as it was hard for Packer fans to trust Rodgers with leading the Packers. Rodgers knew he could lead the Packers better than any of the fans, knowing their complaining after a single loss would not do the Packers any good. Similarly, Jesus knows He can lead our lives better than we can, knowing His power is awesome and glorious, able to overcome any little obstacle we may have in our lives. If Jesus were to speak to us today, he’d probably say the same as Rodgers. “R-E-L-A-X!”

Our problems look massive to us, but to Jesus it’s like seeing a pebble in front of an ant. He knows He can flick it away, but He sometimes allows us to wait for His timing in order for us to learn to trust Him. Don’t be discouraged, fellow Christians, because Jesus is the champion we’re looking for. Aaron Rodgers is a fantastic football player, capable of leading our dear Packers. Jesus is a fantastic God, capable of leading our lives. Go Rodgers! Go Jesus!