Don't Let Self-Doubt Stop Your Service
“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her! ” -- Luke 1:45
"Did you play any sports growing up?" Those seven innocent words spoken on the sideline by a coach who was getting to know me better were almost my undoing. In an instant, what had been a casual conversation with the coach whose team I had recently started serving brought up every fear and doubt I ever had about my calling to FCA. The short answer was "no." I did most certainly not grow up playing or participating in any resemblance of competitive sports, and the one time I did attempt to participate in a team setting, my kindergarten softball team only managed to tie one game all season after losing all the others. So, no, Mr. Coach, I did not grow up playing competitive sports, and the very thought of me doing so is laughable. I felt like a complete fraud, an imposter and was sure he would find a way to quickly but politely excuse me from serving his team because, clearly, I had no business being in sports ministry.
This wasn’t the first encounter I'd had with crippling self-doubt. As a matter of fact, I was quite familiar with the experience. The difference between this self-confrontation and those in the past is I am now armed with God’s Word, the TRUTH about who He says I am, and confidence in His calling on my life despite any earthly inadequacy or fear I was wrestling with.
The above verse and many others that I had written on my heart gave me confidence that God is big enough to fill in my doubts and flaws. He has also put me in exactly the right places for a very specific plan He made ahead of time.
As luck would have it, they didn’t need another coach or former athlete to serve the team, and they didn’t dismiss me after my shocking non-athletic confession. I just finished my sixth season as the character coach for this great team. I've been with them through many highs and lows, and I even led one coach to faith and baptized her.
Had I listened to my flesh instead of leaning into the truth of God’s promises, I would have missed so many wonderful moments that God had planned for me.
I am so thankful for God’s affirmation of who I am in and to Him, knowing that is the only opinion that really matters.
- Recall a time in your life when you felt like you didn’t belong? How did you handle those feelings?
- Do you struggle with feeling inadequate as an athlete, coach, or volunteer?
- What are some truths from God’s Word you can speak over those lies?
Joshua 1:9
Philippians 4:6-8
Proverbs 3:5-6
Esther 4:14
Jesus thank you that we are so much more than who we and others see ourselves. In You we are fearfully and wonderfully made for good works that you prepared for us in advance. Thank you for your Word that fills us with blessed reassurance of who we are in and because of you. Help us to see ourselves through Your eyes and to be strong in the face of doubt leaning on Your promises to boldly walk in Your calling for our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen.
