“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15

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Longtime tennis commentator and former professional player Darren Cahill recently told a fascinating story in an interview about an encounter he had years ago with now-retired tennis legend Roger Federer. Cahill spoke about how he had the opportunity to spend a week with Federer while he was still actively playing and was stunned at the level of practice intensity Federer put in every day. Cahill noted that when most people saw Federer practicing on the courts at a tournament or before a match, it always looked like he was just going through a gentle warmup at a local club.

After seeing Federer put in these high-intensity, four- or five-hour training sessions in private with no public eyes looking on, Cahill asked why he never showed this level in public practice. Federer simply said that by the time he’d arrive at a tournament, the hard work was already done in the lead-up. All that was left was to just feel the ball and feel good about his game. His point was that the tedious, dedicated work and time that you put in on a private court or an empty stadium when nobody is watching is where the real results happen. What you see in the tournaments and important matches are just the byproduct.

Brain scientists have discovered that, in challenging moments, we don’t necessarily “rise to the occasion” as much as we fall back on our level of preparation. And the Bible only further emphasizes this when speaking about the importance of doing the small, unseen things well that later add up in the times when it counts the most.

First Peter 3:15 talks about always being “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” Proverbs 6:6-8 speaks of observing the ant and how it prepares itself in harvest for the winter. Matthew 24:44 says that we must be ready for the unknown hour when Jesus comes back. Matthew 25:1-11 tells the story of the 10 virgins and how only five made the effort be sure they were prepared for the groom’s arrival. Second Timothy 2:15 (above) states that there is no shame if we have done our best to present ourselves approved to God.

When it comes to our faith and even the results we see in the workplace or on the field or court of play, the choices we’ve made and the things we’ve done when nobody except God is watching are what set us up for success or failure in the big moments. The adjustments we’re willing to make, the personal growing we do, the preparation we give attention to in the privacy of our own homes, closest relationships and time spent with God is the stuff that will equip us for the big moments when we need it the most.

We won’t be made in the visible situations when everyone is watching, but rather in the seemingly insignificant moments when what we’re doing is setting the tone for what happens tomorrow.

— Katherine Singer

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