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How We Make Choices: What Super Bowl Quarterback Drew Brees Believes About God

By Bonnie Gray • February 26, 2010 • 23 Comments

A few weeks have passed since the New Orlean Saints won the 2010 Super Bowl championship title, but I’m still thinking about Drew Brees.

No, I’m not daydreaming about a married man.  I’m just mulling over what Drew Brees said about his faith in Christ, in an interview he gave to online Christian website, Tangle.

I’m an annual football fan, which means I tune in every year to watch the Super Bowl game. In fast-forward motion.  On Tivo.

When I see the scoreboard change, I stop the recording, to back it up and watch how the points got scored.

I was crunching on my microwave popcorn during a slow-mo replay, when something the sports announcer said caught my attention. 

Four years ago, Brees was still nursing a bad shoulder injury when he was deciding between two-time Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins or the New Orlean Saints.  Although the New Orlean Saints had never won a title in any professional sport at the time, Drew signed with them instead of Miami.

From an article in Yahoo! Sport by Chris Chase, I learned why Drew made that deicsion.

“I just felt that energy in New Orleans. From the very beginning, there was a genuine feeling that they wanted me there. They believe I can come back from this shoulder injury and lead them to a championship. They were as confident as I am, and that meant a lot.”

It was amazing Drew had the confidence to choose the underdog team over a team with a winning history.

What was the personal story behind that choice? I wondered.

I found the answer in Drew Bree’s interview in Sharing The Victory:  Faith and Sports —

When asked what it means to be one of the “few good men” for Christ, Drew revealed a personal belief —

“It means you’re gonna trust that He’s never gonna put something in front of you, that is too hard for you — or else He wouldn’t put it in front of you.

So, no matter what comes your way, you’ll be able to overcome it.  It’ll make you stronger…”

Wow.  I wish I had that kind of confidence when I’m nursing an injury with the potential to cripple my dreams.

We all sustain injuries, if we play the game of life.  The curious and powerful deciding factor whether we give up or keep going is what we truly believe about our faith, in those hard times.

What do we say to ourselves when we are facing overwhelming setbacks or challenges?

What is it that we really believe about God and His plan for us in those moments?

I think Drew’s words and example have caused me to really think hard about what I base my choices on.

And make the right decisions by faith.

“God is faithful;
He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.


But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out
so that you can stand up under it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13

What caught your attention in Drew Brees’ interview about his faith in God?

What helps you take a faith perspective when bad things happen?

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23 Comments

  • Reply Kristen@Moms Sharpening Moms February 26, 2010 at 11:50 am

    Holy smokes, I thought this guy seemed like a good man before, but now I know it! To say the way he handles his platform is impressive would be a gross understatement. What character and humility he shows!

    When bad things happen, I think I most echo Drew’s sentiment that He won’t put anything in front of me that is too hard for me. God is over the whole thing and while I may not understand until heaven, one day I’ll see why those bad things happened.

    Thanks for this, Bonnie!
    .-= Kristen@Moms Sharpening Moms´s last blog ..Comfort Food Recipes =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray February 27, 2010 at 4:42 pm

      We have to help each other get through those hard times. Because, you’re right, there are sometimes no answers until heaven. Esp. for the tough ones.

  • Reply jasonS February 26, 2010 at 11:58 am

    Really great post, Bonnie. Confidence to pursue our dreams and go where others will encourage that (no matter what it may look like on the surface)… this is a powerful thing!

    Thanks.
    .-= jasonS´s last blog ..Light Friday Hit List: 2/26/10 =-.

  • Reply Bridget Chumbley February 26, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    I love your method of watching the game! Great post, Bonnie.
    .-= Bridget Chumbley´s last blog ..Fun Friday…Oreos =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray February 27, 2010 at 4:43 pm

      I like it, too! LOL.

  • Reply uberVU - social comments February 26, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    Social comments and analytics for this post…

    This post was mentioned on Twitter by TheBonnieGray: New Post– What Does Super Bowl Quarterback Drew Brees Believes About God? http://bit.ly/bPNtJ4 How Do U Make Choices?…

  • Reply Chrystie February 26, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    Great post, Bonnie. Very cool interview with Drew Brees. I love the question you pose, “What is it that we really believe about God and His plans for us in those moments?” In those moments, I think I really have to hold strong to what I know about God’s character because the enemy would love for me to believe that God isn’t there, doesn’t care, and that I am all alone.
    .-= Chrystie´s last blog ..What In The World Are You Drinking? =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray February 27, 2010 at 4:15 pm

      Just by opening up and sharing these words with us — you are not alone. You describe the battle of thoughts we have to choose between well.

  • Reply laura February 26, 2010 at 8:09 pm

    Wow. i can’t believe i didn’t know all this about Drew. I mean, I usually just watch the human interest stories during Superbowl. This year, I missed most everything for some reason.

    Sometimes it seems like the things in life are too hard…too much. I need to remember what Drew says here.

    Thanks for sharing this, Bonnie.
    .-= laura´s last blog ..Kindling the Flame =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray February 27, 2010 at 4:13 pm

      I was excited to find this interview, too! It’s true, life is hard. It’s inspiring to be reminded by Drew’s example/words.

  • Reply Cynthia aka RenewedMind February 27, 2010 at 1:52 am

    Hi Bonnie,

    I am working here in the Silicon Valley — and like magic — I met you via the Internet. You are doing what I would like to do and that is to create a community of believers who believe in Jesus Christ, who in turn become stronger in their faith by sharing.

    As you mentioned in one of your other post, there are so many “gray” areas and what is revealed to you may be different from what is revealed to me.

    I love football. I know that there are many of us that are led by the Spirit in all walks of life. I tried to imagine what some of players on the Colt team night have felt when they lost. I am sure there are many on that team they love the Lord, have a daily walk with Him but they “lost” or it seems like God did not answer their prayers.

    We are all blessed. PERCEPTIVE — by comparison to, for instance, the people of Haiti, we are all blessed. So many times this is my thought pattern. Sometimes I believes it keeps me from being all that I can be.

    This is what I mean. After Drew Brees’ injury, he could have said that God has blessed him to be in a professional that many people only dream about and the injury means that it is time to make a decision to get out of football and then God will lead me in a new “unknown” direction. Or, he could have decided to go with Dolphins instead of the Saints.

    God has given free will. I believe that whatever Drew Brees would have decided, the outcome would have been the same because of his confession and his corresponding faith. If you have a desire and ask God, in Jesus’ name, as given to us in the scripture, God will do it for us. Brees has glorified God by being a good role model and servant.

    The lesson I learned from Brees is that with his faith and trust in God, God put His SUPER on Brees’ natural. God is limited by our inabilities. I believe that if Brees chose to go to Miami with the same faith and confession, the Dolphins would have been Superbowl champ instead of the “Saints”.

    How much time have we lost because we claim to be waiting on the Lord to show us the way? Why did it take the Isrealites 40 years to complete an 11 day journey? Faith without works is dead. Some type of action must be done on our parts if we want God to help us.

    So to increase my Faith and keep it stirred up and hot, I will remember the example of Brees. I will DECIDE, CONFESS, HAVE FAITH and TRUST that GOD can put His Super on my natural. This is how I see God working THROUGH His people.

  • Reply Larry Who February 27, 2010 at 10:32 am

    “What helps you take a faith perspective when bad things happen?”

    Smith Wigglesworth was once asked how to have great faith. His reply, “First the blade, then the head, then the mature grain (Mark 4:28).”

    Wigglesworth knew that faith is developed over time and through experiences. I agree.

    For me, it’s been a day to day walk with the Lord for twenty-five years. So, what maybe bothered me fifteen years ago, no longer does. You see, the Lord has proved Himself over and over again to be faithful in all circumstances of my life.
    .-= Larry Who´s last blog ..Islamic Terrorists Vs. Radical Christians: New Game. New Rules. (Part 13) =-.

  • Reply Brett Barner February 27, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    I’ve been a fan of Drew Brees since he was at Purdue and stayed the extra year to take them to the Rose Bowl. He’s a class act, and has yet to disappoint. I’ve followed his career and have always been impressed.

    One thing I’ve appreciate about Brees, is his “Even Steven” type attitude founded on fearless faith. Ups or downs, he carries a solid attitude. Can’t say enough about him.

    Another great story in the Super Bowl that a fast-forward friendly person such as yourself may have missed is when the Colt’s kicker, Matt Stover, missed a field goal and gave praise to God. Danny Bixby wrote up a good post about it (something I now regret not doing.) Make sure to check it out and tell Danny I sent you. (*I work on commission) 🙂

    http://dannyjbixby.blogspot.com/2010/02/thank-god-if-you-make-it-thank-god-if.html
    .-= Brett Barner´s last blog ..Five Incredible Church Buildings [Photos] =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray February 27, 2010 at 4:01 pm

      Hey Brett – Thanks, dude! You’re right… I missed that one. I will check it out and be sure to say hi, compliments of Brett Barner! 🙂

    • Reply Danny Bixby February 27, 2010 at 7:57 pm

      As you know, the check is in the mail.
      .-= Danny Bixby´s last blog ..Real Church Innovation =-.

  • Reply Danny Bixby February 27, 2010 at 8:04 pm

    I like the post Bonnie, some good insights. I’m often caught by the dichotomy in verses like 1 Cor 10:13. We’re told that God will provide the way out–but he’s not going to do it for us, we still have to be the one to stand.

    Shows God’s faithfulness without relinquishing any of our own responsibility for our circumstances/results. No passing the buck allowed.

    I really dig the theme of your site, by the way. Very clever 😉
    .-= Danny Bixby´s last blog ..Real Church Innovation =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray February 28, 2010 at 12:43 am

      Thanks, Danny! It was fun visiting over at your place… Love the sense of humor with a straight up perspective.

      I love how you describe the dichotomy of faith! It’s the nature of the beast. We’d love to have God’s work in our life be more like pixie dust… but, God is after a relationship — that pushes us to trust, even when it feels like falling.

  • Reply Phil Gould February 28, 2010 at 12:26 pm

    Just got back from church where the sermon was “Christians Meeting Needs”, so what stuck out for me in Drew’s interview was his statement about serving and helping others. We can’t all do it in the big way Drew is with his foundation, but we can each make a difference by doing what we can in the opportunities we’re given. Great post!

  • Reply Christine February 28, 2010 at 8:04 pm

    I really liked the video and the quote you highlighted from it. It reminds me of my 6th grade teacher who once said that God never puts something on my shoulders that I can’t handle. Although, I now know that ultimately God wants me to cast my burdens on Him and not carry things on my shoulders, the concept that He will only give us what will strengthen us and help us is so true. I’ve learned that when we pass through the waters, God is with us. When we face storms and the fire of trials, God is faithful not to let a flame even kindle upon us. He is our shield, our fortress and everpresent help in every time of need. He is so beautiful and faithful. Thanks for the post! Hope you have a lovely start to your week. 🙂
    .-= Christine´s last blog ..Wear Forgiveness Like a Crown… =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray March 2, 2010 at 10:49 pm

      Thanks, Christine! I did have a great start. It’s amazing what gets imprinted in our minds… even at 6th grade. What a great teacher you had.

  • Reply Bradley J. Moore March 1, 2010 at 3:25 am

    This is one inspiring guy. Your post, and his interview, should get us all ready to pull up our bootstraps, chin up, and get on with it. The best way to approach life and faith is to expect that bad things will probably happen, and prepare to mentally deal with setbacks. Those injuries can cause us to get all caught up in our bad feelings, when the feelings need to be managed out of the drivers seat, replaced with faith and deterimination.

    Thanks for finding this bit of inspiration, Bonnie!
    .-= Bradley J. Moore´s last blog ..Confessions of a Mad Journalist in Search of Life’s Purpose =-.

    • Reply Bonnie Gray March 2, 2010 at 10:51 pm

      You’re a realist — with confidence in faith… It’s a powerful combination. I hope I can experience that combination more and more.

  • Reply Ali V March 8, 2010 at 8:43 am

    Hi there,

    I like that you’re blogging about this. But just FYI, his name is Drew Brees, therefore the possessive is Drew Brees’s. 🙂

    He is quite the hero in New Orleans.

    GO SAINTS! Who Dat! Believe Dat!

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