Faith Under Pressure

Related Scripture:

“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” – Mark 4:40

Short wing officials in football are involved in every play and receive frequent opinions from coaches, assistant coaches, and players.  A mentor of mine told me it often feels like “being thrown in the lions’ den.”  While he meant the comment in jest, it certainly resonated. In the Book of Daniel, King Darius threw Daniel in the lion’s den for remaining faithful to God.  Just as Daniel faced the lions with courage and faith, a football official stands amid roaring crowds, angry coaches, and high-pressure moments, trusting in his preparation and integrity to see him through. Every snap of the ball brings the possibility of conflict or controversy, yet we must remain calm, impartial, and steadfast—qualities Daniel embodied.

Daniel’s confidence was not in his ability to control the outcome, but in God’s power to sustain him through it. He trusted God’s will, no matter what the outcome.  Likewise, a football official cannot control every reaction from players or coaches, but he can control his composure, knowing that integrity and trust in God are his protection amid the chaos.

Christ echoed this same call to faith under pressure. When His disciples panicked during a violent storm at sea, Jesus calmed the wind and waves and asked, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:40). His words remind believers that fear fades where faith is strong. On the football field, moments of tension test not only an official’s judgment but his peace of spirit.

Like Daniel among the lions and the disciples on the stormy sea, the faithful official learns that courage and calm do not come from controlling circumstances, but from trusting the Lord who commands both lions and storms to be still.

Questions to Ponder:

Am I standing firm in fairness and faith even when the pressure rises, trusting God—like Daniel—to help me remain calm and courageous in the face of criticism?

When the game’s tension feels like a storm, do I hear Christ’s question—“Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”—and respond by placing my confidence not in control, but in trust, integrity, and love of Christ?

Dan Munroe - Simsbury, Connecticut