Dr. Bob Rotella is a sports psychologist who for years has helped top athletes achieve success. He stresses the importance of addressing the mental aspect of competition. Because many times problems with performance have little to do with an athlete’s physical abilities, and everything to do with what is going on inside his or her head. 

The most gifted athletes can be held back from succeeding because of negative thoughts. Sometimes they are thinking too much about the technicalities of their stroke or worrying about others’ opinions of them. Sometimes they are holding on to fear and doubt. Sometimes they are dwelling on past mistakes or unfair calls. Dr. Rotella says athletes have to get past these things in order to perform to their highest potential. He calls it, “getting out of your own way.” 

Doesn’t this apply to spiritual life, too?

Often I am my own worst enemy. Often the only thing in the way of doing what God wants me to do is ME!

Sometimes it is anxious thoughts and fears swirling around in my head. Sometimes I am busy dwelling on past failures or regrets. Sometimes I let infuriating actions of other people preoccupy my thoughts. All these things bring me down and keep me from living freely.

My friend Cindy shared a handy saying with me that has really helped. She says: “Pray, obey, and stay out of the way.” 

What if I would intentionally take my frustrations to God, leave them in His hands, and then just put my efforts into my own personal obedience? What if I moved out of the way, leaving the results to Him?            

Proverbs 3:5 speaks to this very issue. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” Why does God tell us not to lean on ourselves? Because He knows how messed up our own thinking is, how it actually hurts us rather than helps us. He knows that our negative internal thoughts keep us stagnant, leave us tangled in frustration, and hold us back from living happy, fulfilled lives. But if we put our trust in our all-knowing and all-powerful God, we can be released of these struggles. And then, God can use us.

I think there’s a reason the writer of the proverb includes the phrase “with all your heart.” Trusting in God can’t be done partially or half-heartedly.We have to get all the way out of the way! We cannot keep some of the control for ourselves, or turn things over to Him and then take them back. He wants us to one hundred percent, wholeheartedly lean on Him. Once we’re out of the way, God can work in our lives, and we will see the fruits!

God, I’m a mess on my own. Help me to let go of the negative thoughts that stifle me and to put my trust completely in YOU.