It is quite common for professional athletes to become coaches once their playing careers are over. Having been on the receiving side of the coaching instructions for so long while actually playing the game, they bring a unique perspective to coaching.
While not every great player makes the transition into great coaching, these players turned coaches can relate to players in ways that others can’t. If they had long playing careers, they probably played under several coaches. They probably saw the good, the bad and the ugly. Hopefully they learned from those years so that they can excel now that the tables are turned and they are in charge.
The player turned coach is not unique to sports. We actually see it in everyday life. The tables get turned: The employee is now the boss; the constituent is now the politician; the follower is now the leader. The question arises: Did we learn the lessons as followers that are needed to be great leaders?
In Psalm 58 David writes about the injustice in society. He sees the corruption of those in charge (v2) and laments their wickedness (vv3-5). He then goes on to ask God to mete out His judgment on these unrighteous leaders (vv6-9) while observing that God’s blessings are on the righteous (vv10-11). What is interesting about David’s observations is that they most likely were made before he became king. They were made when he was on the receiving side of the injustice.
Why is this significant?
When the tables were later turned and David was in charge, I think these experiences made him a better leader. Remember, there was a long span of time between the time that David was anointed king and when he actually became king (more than a decade). This was a learning time for David. All that he went through during that season—including receiving the wrath of unjust leaders—was used to grow him into the leader that God wanted.
Today you may find yourself in the midst of a difficult situation. Maybe you are not being treated fairly at work or you have been the recipient of some kind of injustice. The question is this: What will you do with that situation? Will you commit it to God, learn from it, and allow it to mold you into a better person? Could this be a situation that is preparing you for a more advanced leadership role? Could God be transitioning you from a player to a coach by allowing this experience?
Our perspective is radically changed when we look at all of our current trials with an eye to the future.
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Frank Banfill is an international speaker, leadership developer, and president of MaxPoint Ministries (www.maxpoint.org) which seeks to help individuals and ministries realize their full potential in Christ. Please forward this to your family & friends. To get Frank’s devotionals delivered free to your inbox, or to request reprint rights, visit www.FranksBibleBlog.com.
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