The Sports Reverends Blog
Trust Under Pressure: Lessons from Sports and Scripture
Let’s be real for a moment. Trust is one of the most fragile yet powerful forces in life. Whether it’s on the field, on the court, or in our walk with God, trust is what holds everything together—and under pressure, that’s where trust is truly tested.
Trust on the Field
Football is the ultimate team game. Every position depends on another—if the offensive line doesn’t block, the run game and passing game fall apart. Success comes down to whether teammates, coaches, and players can trust each other.
Take week one of the NFL season. The Ravens were dominating until the Bills mounted a comeback. On a critical fourth-and-two, Coach John Harbaugh chose to punt instead of trusting Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry to get those two yards. The result? Josh Allen drove the Bills to a game-winning field goal. A breakdown in trust cost them.
On the flip side, we saw the fruit of trust in players like Keon Coleman and Quentin Johnston. After rocky starts to their careers, their coaches and quarterbacks stayed patient, and now they’re shining. Trust—built over time—can unlock greatness.
Trust in Life and Faith
That’s not just a sports lesson—it’s a faith lesson. Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Trusting God is easy when life is smooth. But when we fumble, when the pressure’s on, when we feel like we’re not enough—that’s when trust really matters. And unlike a coach who may bench a player, God never pulls His trust from us. Even when we drop the ball, He puts it back in our hands and gives us another chance.
Trust Requires Risk
Trust always involves risk. Coaches who go for it on fourth down are risking the game. In faith, trusting God means stepping into the unknown. Hebrews 11:1 puts it like this:
“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Sometimes that looks like working hard in the offseason, like the coach’s story of grinding through a tough JV year before making the provincial basketball team. Sometimes it looks like passing the ball to a teammate in the biggest game of your life, believing in the work they’ve put in. And sometimes, it means giving God control when every part of you wants to hold on.
God’s Track Record Is Perfect
In sports, trust can be lost. Coaches can bench players. Teammates can let each other down. But God doesn’t operate that way. Psalm 20:7 reminds us:
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
God has never failed. His track record is perfect. When we place the ball in His hands, He never fumbles.
Living It Out
So here’s the challenge: What does trust look like for you this week? Maybe it’s stepping into a risky decision God is nudging you toward. Maybe it’s letting go of control in an area you’ve been clinging to. Maybe it’s simply choosing to pray instead of worry.
Like in sports, trust grows through repetition. The more we practice trusting God—even in small things—the stronger our “faith muscles” become for the big moments.
God is faithful. He doesn’t pull His trust from you. The question is: Will you put your trust in Him?
