• SPORTMOMS & MORE HOME
  • SPORTMOM E-votional
  • "BEHIND THE BENCH" BLOG
  • COACH'S CORNER
  • MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

STUCK?

11/9/2010

 
In baseball it's a "slump" - in basketball it's being "off"- students call it a "funk" - writers call it a "block" and some see their glass as half empty while it seems everyone else's is full to the brim! When these unexpected down times of life come upon us we feel STUCK!

Coach gets STUCK after each basketball season ends! This "downer" catches his usually up-beat disposition by surprise and lingers until spring basketball begins. Some would say they are depressed, but not Coach . . . he would never give in to that word! A little down maybe, but depressed? Never!

"That word" is used quite regularly these days. We seek ways to overcome it or live with it until it subsides and are offered a myriad of solutions for "help" with this stuckness. The word "depressed", like the word "love", is used to describe a number of experiences. Maybe our athlete doesn't like the amount of homework he or she has, or perhaps a friend treated them badly, or maybe their parents didn't let them go somewhere they wanted to go . . . whatever the case, to them it is depressing.  It is used more accurately to describe a deep sense of hopelessness which lingers and envelopes our entire being sometimes for reasons we don't understand.

Depression usually follows a devastating circumstance in our life story. This causes our strength to be depleted leaving us feeling weak or helpless. Recently I ran across this thought-provoking quote from an unknown author: 
"Depression is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign that you have been strong for too long."

Being strong for too long was the problem a man named Job in the Old Testament scriptures had (see Job 30).  His life was filled with devastation which led him to speak these words about his condition:
 
"And now my life seeps away. Depression haunts my days." Job 30:16 NLT

Getting stuck keeps us from moving forward - going nowhere fast - our enthusiasm for life drains away. David the Psalmist was in a place like that when he cried out to his faithful God saying:

"Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don't turn away from me or I will die." Psalm 143:7 NLT

 In both of these cases God saw them through. He carried them on to greater things just as He did for the children of Israel. They were in bondage . . . slaves in a place that kept them from being all they could be when God spoke these welcoming words:

"I'll compassionately come in and rebuild homes. The town will be rebuilt on its old foundations; the mansions will be splendid again. Thanksgivings will pour out of the windows; laughter will spill through the doors. Things will get better and better. Depression days are over. They'll thrive, they'll flourish." Jeremiah 30:18 The Message (excerpts) 

What good news for their stuckness and He does the same for us today.  Promising a better day to come filled with laughter when we will thrive and flourish!  May our down times remind us that He is carrying us through.

Blessings . . . as your STUCK reveals His strength.


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    About the Author... 
    JANET BROWN

    As a veteran coach's wife, Janet invites you to join her in "Changing the world for Christ...one athlete at a time".Through the language of sports and life experiences, Janet uniquely exposes the character of God and His desire for "sportmoms" to WIN BIG in life. Her behind-the-bench view invites us into a world of triumphant wins and tragic personal loss.


    LIFE EXPERIENCE

    From being a mother of 2 to a spiritual mom to many, the road of life for Janet includes these hallmarks:

    - Gave her "heart to Jesus"     at 6 years old
    .
    - Studied Education/          Psychology at a Christian  College

    - Enjoyed earning her wings  and flying as a Flight    Attendant

    - Is the wife of Coach Dave Brown since 1967.

    - Involved in ministry to women for 30+ years including: Retreat Facilitator and speaker, Bible Study leader, National Women's Ministry Leader

    - Held an executive position in the corporate world for 35 years.

    - Developed and taught Pre-married and Marriage classes with her husband for 12 years. 

    Currently is a writer, grandmother to 4 and a coach's wife.


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    Categories

    All
    SPORTMOMS & MORE
    Your Comments

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly