by Shannon Caughey

As a coach, are you ever uncertain about what to do? You are not alone. Even the most experienced and successful coaches experience times like this. For example, an athlete shares with you about a complex personal struggle that is affecting them. How should you respond? Or one of your players gets in trouble yet again—but you also know that their participation in your program is one of the few opportunities they have to potentially grow in character and discipline. Do you remove them from the team, or do you keep giving them more chances?

In these and similar situations, determining the right thing to say or do can be challenging. You may even feel the pressure of thinking, “What if I get this wrong and make matters worse?” In this series of devotions, we’re considering coaching quandaries such as these. We’re then looking to God’s Word for insight. The goal is to better understand how to trust and follow Jesus Christ when in the midst of difficult and confusing coaching scenarios.

When we are uncertain what to do, we need wisdom. God’s Word has much to say about wisdom. Here’s what the Bible means when referring to “wisdom”: knowledge and skill in applying what is true and right. In the opening verses of James 1, James highlights the fact that we “face trials of many kinds” (v. 2)—including challenging coaching situations. A few verses later, James gives this instruction: “⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”

When encountering uncertainty about what to do as a coach or in other areas, follow the directive of James:

1. Ask God for wisdom in the situation.

The Bible emphasizes that God is perfect in knowledge and understanding. He is “the only wise God” (Romans 16:27), which means he is unrivaled in his wisdom. Come in prayer to God, asking him to show you what is true and right in the situation. As you do so, often the Lord will bring you to a specific passage from his Word that applies, directing you to think, speak, or act in accordance with this passage in your scenario. Or he may lead you in other ways to recognize how to live out the love and character of Christ in what you’re encountering. James promises that when you ask God for wisdom, “he gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (v. 5).

2. Trust God to give the wisdom you need.

While assuring us that God gives wisdom when we come to him in prayer, James also includes a corrective (v. 6): “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt…” Doubting can take a couple of different forms. It can look like questioning whether God hears our prayers and has the ability to give wisdom for our situation. This type of doubt is saying, “I don’t believe what God reveals about himself in his Word: that he is loving, good, all-knowing, and all-powerful.” Instead, trust God to generously give you the wisdom you need.

Doubting can also involve questioning whether God’s way is best. This form of doubt is saying, “I understand what God through the Scriptures is directing me to do in this situation, but I don’t like it. I’m choosing to do something different.” Remember the warning of Proverbs 14:12—”There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Instead, trust that the wisdom God gives for your situation—even when it involves thinking, speaking, and acting in ways very different from what the world around you is doing—is best. As you put your confidence in what the Lord says, he leads you in the path of life (Psalm 16:11).

When you face the quandary of being uncertain what to do, you need wisdom. Look to God, the source of genuine wisdom, trusting him show you how to respond. He will grow you in the skill of applying what is right and true in each situation.

For reflection: Are you currently feeling uncertain about a situation? Take a moment to ask God for wisdom. Trust him and his power and grace, enabling you to live according to his Word in the situation.