Ready
“Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” - 1 Timothy 4:12
Set
Some of the hardest challenges for athletes are the expectations that come from school and sports. Your academics are a very high priority to your family, your teachers, your coaches and even from yourself. What you learn and achieve through school has a lot to do with your future. Add to this pressure the expectations that come from the sport you love and from your coaches. Coaches have a high priority and pressure to win. For some coaches, this is the most important thing. The sport demands an all in commitment from you and it requires you to give a lot of effort to practice and to play. It can be exhausting. The reward of both school and sports is achieving success, having fun and receiving joy.
At a deeper level, in your mind and heart, you may be struggling with how to manage these high expectations. They are coming at you from seemingly every direction. The good news is you are not left alone in all of these expectations.
Jesus knows what it is to face high expectations. He understands. He is with you. He is always ready to help you. He gave some encouragement in the Bible, in I Timothy 4:12, that no matter what pressure comes at you, be the example, set a high level in what you can control - your speech, your conduct, your compassion and love, your strong faith in Him and staying pure.
It’s hard to control all the expectations that come at you, but you can control what happens on the inside. What you have on the inside is the grit and strength, given to you by Jesus, to do what is good and right. Take the time each day to talk with Him. Ask for His help to manage all the expectations that come to you. Ask Him for peace, wisdom and courage. He will always be with you and help you.
Go
What seems to be the hardest expectation for you?
Where do you find strength to stay strong in daily pressures?
Do you allow Jesus to be your help in time of need?
Workout
Overtime
“Lord Jesus, I reach out to You to ask for help. I need help to understand all the expectations and pressures that come at me. Give me wisdom and strength to respond well and to do what is good and right. Give me courage to be a good example. I trust in You. I believe Your promise that You are with me always. In Jesus’ name, amen.”