By Owen Hughes
FCA Wales Leader
It was a late October evening, the first game for our American football team and my first game as head coach. As the rain came down and the halftime whistle blew, my mind was going 100mph thinking of anything and everything. Players, coaches and referees began moving toward me to ask questions, give information or share opinions about our situation. As the noise increased and surrounded my senses, the fog of the moment began to take over as I walked to the locker room for halftime, trying to figure out what we needed to do to win this game.
How often does the fog of life come to you? Have you ever played in a game where you felt distracted—thinking of things at home that were irrelevant to the moment, things that threw you off your game and prevented you from competing at your best? As a coach, have you had moments when pressures to win overcame your ability to be present at home with your family?
As life pulls us in different directions, our minds can become clouded and foggy when we don’t take time to reset ourselves into a rhythm that is led by Christ. That enables us to thrive in each part of our lives that God has called us to be present in.
In Exodus 14:14, Moses had led his people out of Egypt and the Israelites begin to flood Moses with complaints as the Egyptian army closes in on them as they arrive at the Red Sea. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Moses decided to be still before God. Then God used him to do a miracle.
Stillness Leads to Strength
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” –Exodus 14:14, NIV
Moses is under intense pressure as the cries of his people grow louder and the army of Egypt is bearing down onto them. He needs God to do a miracle. Boldly, he stands in stillness as he trusts the Lord to fight for him when all seems lost. It can seem strange to be still when it feels like action is needed; however, the Hebrew meaning to “be still” means not inaction, but to actively trust in God and “let go or release” our burdens to Him. This action of trusting God, focusing energy and thoughts to Him alone, allowed Moses to reset and overcome the impossible situation he faced.
How often do we strive in our minds to find a solution, frantically trying to come up with the idea on our own, but as soon as we become still, God gives us the solution when we least expect it? In our stillness, God gives us the strength to overcome our situation.
Read the rest of the article to learn how to reset your coaching perspective.
-FCA-