Before Germany buried Brazil in their 2004 World Cup semi-final, Brazilian captain Thiago Silva was confident his team would hold up under pressure. They had a top sports psychologist helping them relax and harden the players to extreme pressure. Each player was given psychological tests to evaluate their emotional reactions in different situations. However, all the “stress management” had failed to manage Brazil’s stress. Fear is everywhere in professional sports because it tests nerve and courage. It is not just a contest of physical skill. Some of the most naturally gifted athletes have crumbled under pressure, lost control, and wasted their abilities.

Numbers 13-14 – Courageous Faith

Numbers 13-14 describes sending twelve scouts into Canaan, the promised land, to prepare for invasion. Most scouts or spies failed the test of nerve and courage when they were sent to scout the land and plan a military strategy. They returned with a negative report and warned the people not to enter because of their opponent’s size and strength.

Only two spies, Joshua and Caleb, urged their people to overcome their fears and obey God’s command to enter the land. They focused on the fact that God’s word had been true concerning the richness of the land, so His word would also prove true concerning the enemies who lived there. This demonstrated their complete faith in God’s character. They proved to be men of great courage who chose not to allow fear to take command.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete are courageous in the face of overwhelming odds. They choose not to allow fear to control their lives by trusting God. They don’t pretend there are no problems to overcome, but they choose to focus on overcoming them.

Bible Verse: “And you shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell; for I, Yahweh, am dwelling in the midst of the sons of Israel.” Numbers 35:34 (LSB)