If we’re honest, most of us are tired of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.  We realize that our fatigue pales in comparison with that experienced by health care professionals and others who are battling COVID-19 on the front lines.  We’re deeply grateful for their heroic efforts.  Our weariness is different, but it’s still there as we wonder when life, including sports, will return to something close to normal.

As a coach, you encourage your players to fight through fatigue.  What does it look like to coach ourselves to fight through the different type of fatigue we’re currently encountering – so that we can then encourage others to do the same?

In Psalm 62, the psalmist is facing an enemy who is attacking relentlessly.  He wonders how long this will continue because he’s already feeling beat up and weary (v. 3).  So the psalmist does some self-coaching in vv. 5-6: “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.”

When present circumstances have us feeling weary, here’s how we fight through fatigue: we remind ourselves that true rest is found in God and what he alone can do.  God is sovereign over all and his purposes will not be thwarted – so our hope comes from him.  God is unchanging in his character in the midst of an ever-changing world – so he is our rock.  God has already demonstrated his perfect, sacrificial love for us through his Son Jesus – so he is our salvation from what threatens us most.  God is all-powerful and always faithful – so he is our fortress.

If we’re relying on life and sports to return to normal for us to feel rejuvenated, we’ll continue to struggle.  But if we do some self-coaching, recognizing our complete dependence upon God and turning to him, we’ll find rest.  We’ll find rest when we embrace the psalmist’s encouragement in v. 8: “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

Coach, God will enable you to fight through the fatigue of this ongoing season.  As you hold fast to the Lord, you will not be shaken no matter what lies ahead.  And the more you rest in God, the more you’ll be able to encourage others to do the same.

For reflection:  Make Psalm 62:5-6 a prayer of commitment – “God, I will find rest in you alone.  Thank you that my hope comes from you.  You alone are my rock and my salvation.  You are my fortress, so I will not be shaken.”