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I go into almost every game nervous. That is who I am. It used to really bother me, then I learned that being nervous is normal and natural. It means that I care about what I am doing.
It made me feel even better when I found out that the great Michael Jordan got nervous before games. When he was asked if he got scared before games, Michael said that he is never scared to do things on the basketball court, but he gets nervous because of the challenges that come from playing. MJ says that he has total confidence in his skills and his skills get him comfortable when the game starts, but he is said that he is nervous at the start of pretty much every game.
It is okay to be nervous. Even the best athletes in the world get nervous. We have to find ways to play through our nerves and fear. Babe Ruth once said, "Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." Bear Grylls is known for presenting wilderness TV shows in the UK and the US. He said, "Being brave isn't the absence of fear. Being brave is having that fear but finding a way through it."
Nelson Mandella once said, "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
But I made it a goal of mine to have real peace. Peace for me didn't mean that I wouldn't get nervous, and it definitely doesn't mean that bad things aren't going to happen. Peace to me is knowing that nervousness, fear, stress, and anxiety are all parts of the human experience, and I can remain calm, feel calm, and be calm and steady at all times, especially in the middle of storms.
When we let the storms of life take over our peace, it affects how we think, talk, and act. We can't learn, grow, or make great decisions if we don't have peace because our brains go into shutdown mode if it feels like it is being attacked. That is why learning how to have peace in the middle of a storm is one of the most important things that we can learn.
The best part about peace is that if we believe in Jesus, it is already in us.
It is written in the Bible that we will experience trials, troubles, tribulations, and storms, but the peace of God is in us as long as we trust and believe that all things work together for the good of those who believe (John 16:33 and Romans 8:28). Jesus told His disciples, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27)."
Jesus told His disciples these things to keep them from falling away (John 16:1). He knew hard times were coming for them, and he wanted them to be prepared.
One of my favorite Bible stories was when Jesus walked on water (Matthew 14). After feeding the 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, Jesus sent his disciples ahead of him in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee while he went by a mountainside by himself to pray.
Then a storm came and scared the disciples in the boat. To catch up to them, Jesus had to walk across the sea, on the water, to the boat. When he got close to them, their fear turned to terror as they thought Jesus was a ghost.
Jesus immediately said to them, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
Peter then asked if he could come to Jesus, and Jesus said, "Come."
Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"
Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said. "Why did you doubt?"
Two things really stick out to me when I read this story. First, when Jesus sent away the disciples, He went by himself to pray. When I feel fear, anxiety, or stress, I need to go by myself and pray more often, like Jesus did.
Second, Peter was able to walk on water because he trusted Jesus, but the second he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the storm around him, he started to sink. If we place our faith in Jesus, and if we don't doubt that He will take care of us, we can have peace in the middle of the storm.
FOCUS ON JESUS AND NOT THE STORM AND YOU CAN HAVE PEACE.
We will never have life without storms. I don't know if we can fully get rid of human emotions like fear, stress, and anxiety. But we have tools that we can use to bring out the peace that is already in us; the peace that Jesus left for us so our hearts won't be troubled nor afraid (John 14:26-27).
Pray and have faith in Jesus. Know that all things will work together for the good of those who believe (Romans 8:28). God is the God of hope, and if we trust Him, He will fill us with all joy and peace so that it overflows by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13 Week 5 Devo | Having Peace in the Middle of the Storm).
What also works for me when I need to feel peace is to write down what I need to do right now or for the day, or write down what is keeping me from experiencing peace. When I write it down, I can see my situation objectively and I can better see what the best next step is for me.
Remember, success is peace of mind that comes from knowing that you did the best you could do, and peace is a gift that Jesus has left us all if we believe and have faith in Him.
This Week
1 - Pray.
Every morning, before you do anything, pray to God in Jesus's name. After Jesus fed the 5,000 and before he walked on water, he went alone to the mountainside and prayed. Jesus said, "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." Pray that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).
2 - Define Success
Legendary coach John Wooden said, "Success is peace of mind attained only through self-satisfaction and knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming." Know what you need to do to feel successful so that you know what you are working for.
3 - Make a Success List
Every morning, make a list of things that you need to do to have a successful day. Seeing what you need to do and then crossing those things out will help you feel the peace that comes from doing the best that you can. Ask yourself, "What do I need to do today to feel good, to feel successful, or to have peace?"
5 Bible Verses That Will Help You Unlock The Peace Within You
1 - Jesus told His disciples, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27)."
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