Finding God's Peace Under Anxiety

After a tough defeat, the coach replays each play call and personnel decision in his mind. His heart pounds with worry as he wonders what the parents will say and how the players will respond tomorrow. He is crushed with the weight of expectations, and sleep will be impossible as his thoughts feel out of control. Anxiety’s grip is real, raw, and familiar to many coaches. 

Anxiety is a heart issue that God addresses through His word, inviting coaches to find peace by trusting his sovereignty and grace rather than striving for control. Scripture reveals anxiety as a signal of a more profound heart need, while distinguishing between sinful worry and godly concern. Scripture offers gospel-centered hope for coaches facing daily pressures.

Anxiety can take many shapes. Scripture is full of examples of how anxiety presents itself in our lives:

1. a) Paralyzed in fear (Exodus 14:10—12): God led the Israelites to the Red Sea, where they trembled and cried out while Pharaoh’s army closed in. They were immobilized by fear, doubting God’s promised deliverance.
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3. b) Excessive worry (Luke 10:38—42): Martha was excessively worried by the task of hosting, expressing frustration about Mary’s inaction to Jesus. Her worries stole her focus from Jesus’s presence.
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5. c) Insecurity (Exodus 4:10—13): Moses pleaded inadequacy when called to confront Pharaoh. His self-doubt reflected anxiety over his insecurities, demonstrating a belief that his incompetency can hinder God’s sovereign plan.
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7. d) Panic (Mark 4:35—41): The disciples awoke Jesus in a storm, fearing they would drown, accusing Jesus of indifference in their difficult circumstances.
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9. e) Nervousness (1 Samuel 13:8—12): When King Saul was at Gilgal with fearful troops, he experienced nervous impatience when Samuel was late. He inappropriately offered a burnt offering, his desire to soothe nerves and calm troops taking precedence over obeying God.
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11. f) Control (Genesis 16:1—4): Anxious about God’s promise for a child, Sarai (Sarah) and Abram (Abraham) chose not to wait on the Lord for Him to fulfill His promise. They decided to fulfill God’s promise through Hagar. Their trust in God’s plan failed, and their anxiety-driven control backfired.
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Scripture shows a distinction between godly concern and sinful anxiety. While sinful anxiety paralyzes and distracts, scripture shows anxiety as potentially productive when it is a godly concern spurring one to faithful action. Paul talks about the daily pressure he is under due to his concern for the churches (2 Cor 11:28). Nehemiah’s burdened heart over Jerusalem’s ruins (Neh 1:4) spurred prayer and action to rebuild. We must discern in our lives whether our anxiety leads to trust and stewardship or to doubt and control.

In Matthew 6:25—36, Jesus identifies that worry can result from a misplaced or inordinate focus on earthly security rather than on God’s kingdom. When our fear and anxiety begin to interfere with our daily life and tasks, we should accept the call to examine what we worship.

Returning to the story of Jesus and the disciples in the storm (Mark 4:35—41), we see how individuals can live through the same circumstances and experience them very differently. The disciples believed the storm would kill them (Mark 4:38). Jesus, on the other hand, was asleep in the stern and unconcerned (Mark 4:38—40). They all experienced the same storm, on the same boat, and Jesus identified what drove the difference in their responses to the storm in verse 40, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

How do we develop spirits and hearts that respond like Jesus in the storm rather than like the disciples? We pray, prepare, practice, perform, and persevere.

PRAY: In Gethsemane, Jesus freely expressed his heart, desires, and concerns to God but still yielded, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Confess your fears, worries, and desires, and acknowledge your responsibility is before God. Release the rest to God’s sovereign control.

PREPARE (Study & resources): Study passages like Matthew 6:25—34 and Philippians 4:6—7. Ed Welch has written excellent books on this topic, including Running Scared, Fear is Not a Sin, and When I am Afraid (a workbook). Meet with a trusted friend, pastor, or biblical counselor to help examine your heart.

PRACTICE (Daily habits): Journal anxious thoughts, reflecting them against God’s truth and promises in Scripture (e.g. replace “I must win” with “I must steward well the work God has given us.”) Pray daily, yielding your will to God. Focus your mind on the present task, not the “what-ifs” of tomorrow.

PERFORM (Game-time application): Enter with faith, trusting in God’s goodness and sovereign plan. Yield the outcome to the Lord. In these times embody Proverbs 16:9, “A person plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.”

PERSEVERE (Evaluation & long-term faithfulness): Pray for guidance and clarity on where you could have improved the team's preparations or game-time decisions. Don’t allow trials and defeats to hinder you from the good work God has put before you. As Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans (5:3-4), “And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.”