𝒥𝑜𝓈𝒽 𝐵𝒶𝓇𝓂𝑜𝓎

The Lie Coaches Believe About Success Scripture: Luke 10:40; John 15:5 As coaches, we live in a world of checklists. Practice plans. Recruiting calls. Film breakdown. Player meetings. Lineups. Travel. Fundraising. There is always something that needs done. Luke 10:40 says Martha was “distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” Not bad things. Not sinful things. Just… things. Meanwhile Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus. Present. Connected. Listening. Martha wasn’t lazy. She was busy. And busyness pulled her away from the very Person who could actually give her life. Sound familiar? How often do we fall into the same trap as coaches? “If I just grind a little harder…” “If I spend more time in the office…” “If I work one more hour…” “If I do more, we’ll see more fruit…” I’ll be honest — that mindset used to define me. A few years ago, God grabbed hold of my heart through one verse that has become my life verse: John 15:5. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” That verse didn’t just encourage me — it changed my life. I realized I had been trying to produce fruit through my own effort instead of through my connection with Christ. I was coaching hard. Working long hours. Grinding nonstop. But slowly drying up spiritually. Here’s what Jesus makes clear: Fruit doesn’t come from grinding harder. Fruit comes from staying connected. Branches don’t strain to produce grapes. They simply stay attached to the vine. The vine does the work. And I love this promise in that verse: Not “you might bear fruit.” Not “there’s a chance you’ll see fruit.” You WILL bear fruit. But only if you abide. So many of us are out here coaching like disconnected branches — hustling, sweating, forcing outcomes — while replacing presence with productivity. We substitute: 👉 effort for abiding 👉 busyness for intimacy 👉 striving for trusting And then we wonder why joy fades. Why burnout creeps in. Why pressure keeps rising. Martha was doing good things… But she missed the best thing. Connection always comes before production in the Kingdom of God. Your leadership. Your impact. Your influence on players. Your fruit in the locker room. It all flows out of your relationship with Him. Not your grind. Yes — work hard. Yes — be excellent. Yes — steward your role well. But never let “what needs done” distract you from Who you need most. Because apart from Him… You can do nothing. But if you abide? You WILL bear fruit. Not because you forced it. Not because you hustled harder. But because you stayed connected to the Vine. ⸻ Coach’s Prayer Lord, Thank You for reminding me that real fruit comes from staying close to You, not striving harder. Help me to choose connection over distraction, presence over busyness, abiding over grinding. Shape my heart as a coach to lead from a place of intimacy with You.