John Wooden, head coach for many years at UCLA credited much of his success to his father.

Scattered around the farmland near the Wooden home in Indiana were gravel pits.

The county would pay local farmers to take teams of mules or horses into the pits and haul out loads of gravel.

Some pits were deeper than others, and sometimes it was hard for a team to pull a wagon filled with gravel out through the wet sand and steep incline.

One steamy summer day, wrote Wooden, a young farmer was trying to get his team of horses to pull a fully loaded wagon out of the pit.

He was whipping and cursing those beautiful plow horses, which were frothing at the mouth, stomping, and pulling back from him.

“Dad watched for a while and then went over and said to the farmer, ‘Let me take ‘em for you….’ First Dad started talking to the horses, almost whispering to them, and stroking their noses with a soft touch. Then he walked between them, holding their bridles and bits while he continued talking—very calmly and gently—as they settled down. Gradually he stepped out in front of them and gave a little whistle to start them moving forward while he guided the reigns. Within moments, those two big plow horses pulled the wagon out of the gravel pit as easy as could be.”

Wooden said, “I’ve never forgotten what I saw him do and how he did it. Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of leaders act like that angry young farmer who lost control…. So much more can usually be accomplished by a calm, confident, and steady approach.”

Wooden concluded, “It takes strength inside to be gentle on the outside.”

The Apostle Paul wisely observed, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

There is more today that bids for our attention and focus that at any other time in the history of the world.

Technology has tremendous benefits and is used to noble purposes in life and ministry; however, it is in many ways addictive and therefore crippling to individuals, families and the spiritual life of every believer.

Without the strength inside that comes from a deep centered faith in Jesus Christ, it can and is often used by the enemy of the soul of man as a wedge that works its way into the life of a Christian and strategically brings a separation between the creation and creator.

In doing so, spiritual health declines and the fears of this life begin to invade and choke the spiritual life out of men and women of God.
Dr. E. Stanley Jones once wrote, “I am inwardly fashioned for faith, not for fear. Fear is not my native land; faith is. I am so made that worry and anxiety are sand in the machinery of life; faith is the oil. I live better by faith and confidence than by fear, doubt and anxiety. In anxiety and worry, my being is gasping for breath–these are not my native air. But in faith and confidence, I breathe freely — these are my native air… God made us that way. To live by worry is to live against reality.”

Oswald Chambers observed, “Think what simple things Jesus Christ says will choke His word — “the cares of this world … the lusts of other things.”

Once become worried and the choking of the grace of God begins.

If we have really had wrought into our hearts and heads the amazing revelation which Jesus Christ gives that God is love and that we can never remember anything He will forget, then worry is impossible.

Notice how frequently Jesus Christ warns against worry. The “cares of this world” will produce worry, and the “lusts of other things” entering in will choke the word God has put in.”

I am so very grateful for the loving Shepherd who wades into the gravel pits of life and calmly leads us out of the mire and muck of busyness and concern to lives of peace and joy!

Paul would lay hope in our lap a few verses further as he says confidently, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

And he can, and he will. Our responsibility is to let him!

Tim Throckmorton is the president of Lifepointe Ministries