God's Coaching #32

God's Coaching #32

Officials at the 2009 Asian Open in Japan told pro snowboarder Janna Meyen-Weatherby that she would automatically be placed in the finals. So during early rounds of the competition, she took it easy and waited out bad weather at the bottom of the mountain. But there must have been some confusion. Another rider ran over and told Janna that they were calling her name at the starting gate. She was about to be disqualified. Instead of freaking out, Janna laughed. She quickly gathered her gear and rushed up the lift. She took her run with no practice and reached the finals. A longtime friend marveled at Janna’s calm. Janna admitted that she may have flipped out a few years earlier, but since then Jesus had totally changed her on the inside.

Janna was one of the best female snowboarders. She became a pro as a teenager. Janna was the first woman to win four Winter X gold medals in a row. But no matter how much she won in snowboarding, Janna was always depressed, angry, and bitter—until she gave her life to Jesus. Some of the biggest changes God brought to her life were peace, contentment, and joy. Her friends and fellow pros noticed. Snowboarding magazines even wrote articles about how much Janna had changed, thanks to God.

What’s the Score?

Sometimes it’s easier to understand peace when you look at its opposites. Peace is the quiet when an explosive war ends. Peace is the calm after a raging thunderstorm. Peace is the eye of the hurricane when the ferocious winds rage all around.

That’s the kind of peace God brings us. His peace “exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). We just need to remember to look for it. Take your eyes off your storms. Don’t focus on the size of your big test or enemy. Don’t look down at potential failure. Instead, read God’s words, and let his peace fill you up.

On the Ball

Trade your troubles for God’s peace. Write down your problems, and put the paper in an envelope. Write Philippians 4:7 and other verses about peace on another piece of paper. Throw away your problem envelope, and keep God’s encouragement instead.

Coach’s Comment

You will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7