I know this will be hard for you to believe, but I am a licensed soccer coach.
I never played the game, but all three of my children did. My husband and I both took a coaching class and were certified. He went on and became a coach trainer and coached at State Cup level for our daughter.
I was over my head about the time they turned 9, but for three years I assisted and co-coached on three different teams.
I figured out I had a real advantage—I didn’t know much, so my coaching was really simple. I was aided by my husband’s developing Simple Soccer System—he reduced all the complicated coaching into a series of three- or four-word instructions.
Such as: Defense: Slow, Split, Side Offense: Keep, Advance, Center, Score 
Even I understood the basic tactics needed—and I could help these young kids get it too.
All my teams were pretty successful—winning more than they lost. Amazing!
Jesus employed a similar approach in coaching us for living life. Though there was great depth in all He taught, He kept it simple. He gave us many succinct instructions:
Love God with all your being.
Love others as you love yourself
Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Be holy as I am holy.
Give thanks in all things.
Don’t be afraid. Trust me.
Don’t worry. Trust me.
Be filled with the Spirit.
Simple? Yes and no. Impossible in our own power. But Jesus can do it, and He is quite willing to live it out in and through us.
Simple.
How about you? Which of these instructions from Jesus has not been so simple for you?
C2012 Judy Douglass
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all of them. probably the one the jumps out most is ‘don’t be afraid. trust me.’ as fear has been my lifelong nemesis, so insidious, but I have been asking for Him to make it more clear when I am operating in fear & to live differently–humbling & very freeing to see it for what it is and claim what I know is true. {p.s. i remembered that you were/are a soccer coach but it is fun to hear more! I can picture you shouting encouragement from the sideline and running up & down the field:}
We are all afraid sometime, most of us many times.
Sweet post, Jeedoo – simply put, but not simple in depth. : )
I’m with mamaabby – Do not fear – trust Me. Most of my bad reactions to life’s situations (parenting, personal ideas and goals, conflicts with husband) are rooted in a fearful mindset – what if their character never morally develops and grow up to be fools, what if I’m just not ‘good enough’ – don’t really have ‘it’ in me (whatever ‘it’ is), what if he doesn’t really believe in me – believe I’ll come through for him?
All such insidious lies.
And His simple response is, “Do not be afraid. Trust Me.” Keep it simple, right? : ) That’s so reassuring.
Thanks for this, Jeedoo!
Shari, isn’t that the truth. Fears steal so much from us. You might enjoy my post I’m Not Good Enough. Looking forward to meeting you!