Keeping Our Eyes Fixed on Jesus

Related Scripture:

“But when Peter saw how [strong] the wind was, he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me!” - Matthew 14:30

I am so blessed to do something I love to do (most nights).  As an NCAA women’s basketball official, I have officiated in many of the most iconic college basketball arenas in the country.  The crowd's energy is inspiring and nerve-racking at times.  One missed call at a key point in the game may affect the outcome.  And while we will never be perfect (only the Lord is perfect), we strive for excellence night in and night out. How do we handle conflict during a game– maybe between a player and an official, a coach and an official, or even the fans that scream and yell at us?  How do we stay focused and respond when the crowd noise gets too loud?  One word – JESUS!

We all experience faith and fear throughout life.  At times, we fully put our faith in the Lord (when things are going well), and other times fear seems to grip our body and soul when we’re going through hard and rocky times.  It’s a spiritual battle we face every day.

In Matthew Chapter 14, Peter took his eyes off the Lord, and he immediately began to sink.  We can easily fall into this trap.  Jesus wants and desires to speak to us – every moment of every day if we allow Him. But we must take that first step – in silence, in prayer, and by spending time in God’s Word. There are too many distractions that come when we seek to do it our way. The Lord invites us to come to Him; be not afraid; I am with you always! Hear my voice in the silence and solitude.  I am your Good Shepherd. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27). He is saying to us right now - take courage, it is I!  Have faith!

Questions to Ponder:

How do we respond when we encounter struggles in the sport we officiate?

Do we come to Jesus or try to figure it out on our own?

What does Jesus want to do for us when we move from being faithful to fearful?

Joe Vaszily - NCAA Women’s Basketball Official - Westfield, NJ