Staff Blog by Coach Brian Dewey
There are typically two powerful motivators in life: fear and joy. However, only one is a good master. Most of us can bear the weight of fear for a while. But at some point, we will tire of feeling the anxiety, pressure, and frustration that fear brings. Then we leave the thing that is causing the fear: the relationship, the job, the team, or the situation, because we can no longer bear the mounting weight that they place on us. We long to be free.
However, when it comes to joy, you never hear of someone walking away from something because it was too joyful. It just brought them too much happiness, and they couldn’t stand feeling that way any longer. We tend to gravitate toward things that cause us joy so we can experience more of it. It brings freedom from fear. Joy is a powerful motivator and a great master!
As a cross country coach, I interact with athletes from a wide variety of backgrounds. Too often, I see athletes arrive on campus with a high amount of fear associated with running and too little joy. Why? Because when a runner first starts their career, many of them will experience praise when they show signs of success. At least at first.
But inevitably, the bad race comes. The praise turns to questions. And that is where the joy turns to fear. What was once a fun sport has now become full of pressure and anxiety. Practices are no longer enjoyable. Ultimately, races, places, and times become where runners find their worth. And, if they stay in that state of fear long enough, many will quit the sport. Why? Because those race times become where they find their worth and their value. It becomes who they are instead of something they do.
It becomes their identity.
This fear and misplaced identity is not just an issue for cross-country runners. We may be motivated by fear more than we think. Why don’t we speak up and defend the marginalized, not answer honestly, or parent the way we do? The answer is often due to fear. But what happens when we pursue joy?
In Nehemiah, he says, “For the joy of the Lord is my strength.” It’s not my job, money, accomplishments, or anything else. The fact that He rejoices over me is where I draw my strength. Why? Because His joy over me is not contingent upon my performance. He rejoices over me because I am His.
Joy also enables us to do hard things. Hebrews says, “for the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross, scorning its shame.” There was something joyful on the other side of death that enabled Jesus to endure the crucifixion. What was it? Two things. One: his Father’s will. Two: you.
You were the joy set before him.
The Scriptures refer to us, his church, as the bride of Christ. At weddings, watch the groom when the bride makes her appearance. What do you see on the groom’s face? Often, besides a lot of tears, it’s joy! For reasons we cannot comprehend, Jesus receives joy in knowing that we are his bride. So what enabled Jesus to go through the horrors of the crucifixion? Joy.
Joy empowers us to do all sorts of things. Women go through childbirth. Why? For the joy of children. Men go through anxiety to ask a girl out on a date — for the joy of dating her. Runners go through the pain of exceedingly difficult workouts — for the joy of racing and improving.
As a team, our theme is “for the joy.” We run for the joy of it. Not for fame or recognition, but because experiencing a gift that God has given us is a joyful thing. We will sometimes say we get to run, we don’t have to run. Because the minute it turns from “getting” to run to “having” to run, that’s the minute joy leaves.
As stated earlier, both fear and joy are powerful motivators, but only one is a good master. May you experience light, freedom, and life that comes from joy in Christ. #forthejoy
