by Shannon Caughey

Coaching can be exciting and filled with joy! Coaching can also be hard. In this and the next several devotions, we’ll consider some common coaching struggles—and how God through his Word speaks to these struggles.

One struggle most coaches share is discouragement. There are all kinds of discouraging situations you can encounter as a coach: discouraging games or season, the discouragement of a player you were counting on who decides to quit or not go out for the team, discouraging criticism from someone you hoped would support you…to name just a few. What do you do when you’re struggling with discouragement?

The antidote to discouragement is hope. Romans 15:13 says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” In the Bible, “hope” is not some vague wish that everything will eventually turn out okay. Instead, hope is the confident expectation of what God will do in the future based on what he’s already done in the past. Hope is holding fast to our belief that God will carry out all that he has promised to do even though we don’t yet see it—or don’t yet see it in full. 

More specifically, the reason for this confident expectation is Jesus Christ. We know what God has already done through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection: rescuing us from what we deserve for our sin, reconciling us to the God who loves us, giving us new and eternal life. Jesus is the guarantee that God will fulfill every promise he has made. When we respond in faith to Christ, he gives us his Spirit—and part of the Spirit’s ministry is to strengthen our faith so that we would be filled with hope.

As we encounter discouragement, God’s Spirit reminds us of the strength and encouragement we have in Jesus and his promises. As 2 Corinthians 1:20-21 declares, “For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in [Christ]. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God. Now it is God who strengthens us together with you in Christ…” When we focus on Christ and his promises, discouraging situations no longer devastate or derail us. Why? Because we realize they are minor and temporary when compared with the incredible and eternal hope we have in Christ. God’s promises in Christ—knowing him; being secure in his love; having eternal life; being confident that he will use everything that happens in our lives, even painful things, for his good purposes; experiencing his ultimate victory over sin, death, and the enemy of our souls—give us joy and peace because we know these promises will ultimately prevail, even if our present circumstances are tough.

Rather than giving into discouragement, God’s Spirit enables us to follow the directive of Romans 12:12—“Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.” No matter what comes your way as a coach, rejoice in your hope in Christ and stand firm in this hope. Through your Christ-honoring words and actions when discouraging things happen, point others to the hope they can have in Jesus as well.

For reflection: If you’re struggling with discouragement, share this with the Lord. Ask him to help you focus on him and his promises instead. Pray that he would renew your sense of the hope and joy you have in him.