UNPACK This...Staying Calm, Cool, and CollectedSample

Calm And Steady

Before the start of the 2023 Masters Tournament, ESPN.com released an interesting article about Scottie Scheffler’s golf journey.

One of the central storylines of the ESPN article was Scheffler’s calm demeanor, which has helped him to achieve great success as a professional.

In the article, Scheffler stated, “I always try to stay very calm and patient on the golf course. That’s why you don’t see me celebrate a bunch or do anything crazy or get real mad. I try and stay pretty even keel out there, and I think that’s something that people have definitely noticed.”

When we think about handling adversity as followers of Jesus, Scheffler’s attitude provides us with an important parallel. While playing “the course” of life, we often feel stuck in a metaphorical “sand trap” with no way out, and wonder how to keep calm and steady during those rough moments.

Ultimately, it comes down to believing the things we say we believe. Romans 8:28 is one of the most popular verses in the Bible: “And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

If we truly embrace this reality, it will help us to remain calm because we’ll know that whatever we are going through is actually for our good.

The same can be said as we contemplate James 1:2-4: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

When we embrace that God uses our trials to build our character, we recognize we don’t need to lose our cool. So today, let’s be intentional to meditate on the fact that God works all things for good in the lives of His people and that He’s using our temporary pain to make us more like Him.

I’m Matt Osborne and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for working all things for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. Help me to believe You are working through the trials I face in life, and to trust You through it all. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.