Seven Fears Athletes Face; Seven Truths God Gives Sample

Fear of Not Meeting Expectations

Ready: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” - Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

Set: We’ve all been there. A coach either expecting too much or too little of us. Parents with unrealistic expectations to live up to an older sibling or their own playing days. It can crush us, squeeze us with pressure and put us in an unending struggle to live up to what wasn’t meant for us in the first place. 

Sometimes the weightiest expectations are the ones we put on ourselves. We set goals for where we’d like to be by the end of the season, how much we want to lift, and awards we want. When we don’t reach them, it can be crushing, and we label ourselves as failures.

Focusing on expectations detract us from giving our best in the moment and can bring us down from our normal level of play because our minds and efforts are distracted.

Here’s the truth: Christ has no heavy expectations for you, only care.

You were dreamed of before the world began, and this included all your talents, interests, and how to serve your corner of the world. There are things God has for us to do, but there shouldn’t be pressure to it. Instead, we can be happy knowing that God just likes to see us play and use our gifts for Him. The way God sees us creates an ease and confidence to go out and give our best, and to not analyze every little aspect about our days. We are free in Him and free to compete for love of the game and glory to God.

Go:

1. Whose expectations have you paid attention to the most?

2. How can you begin to shift your focus onto God’s expectations?

3. What do you need to do to let Christ redefine your expectations?

Workout: 

Proverbs 23:18

Romans 8:28

James 4:11-12

Overtime: “Whose expectations am I looking to? Lord, You alone know the plans You have for my life. They can be anything, and You have specific things in store. Your expectations for me are the ones that count, and I can trust that they are good and for my benefit. Use them to bring You glory. Amen.”