We tend to judge obstacles by their size. There have been three instances in my journey where I have been away from working in college athletics. Each of those instances afforded me an opportunity to listen, learn, lead and follow.
In these times, a difficult season, a complicated decision, an unexpected problem—these moments felt heavy, and our instinct is often to react based on how big or urgent the challenge appears.
But here’s the truth: challenges are rarely defined by their size. They’re defined by our interpretation.
Two people can stand in front of the exact same situation and experience it completely differently.
One pauses.
One proceeds.
Why?
Because they aren’t looking at the obstacle the same way—they’re looking through different lenses.
🔎 Fear’s Lens: Threat and Limitation
Fear has a way of distorting reality.
It magnifies consequences, exaggerates weaknesses, and amplifies uncertainty.
Through fear, we see:
-
A threat instead of an opportunity
-
A setback instead of a lesson
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A risk instead of a potential reward
Fear doesn’t need proof—it just needs your attention.
It whispers:
“What if this goes wrong? What if you embarrass yourself? What if you fail?”
And slowly, it convinces you that safety is wiser than growth.
🔎 Faith’s Lens: Possibility and Purpose
Faith doesn’t ignore difficulty.
It simply refuses to let difficulty define the outcome.
Through faith, we see:
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Possibility in uncertainty
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Growth in resistance
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Strength in movement
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Purpose in challenge
Faith whispers:
“Even if this is hard, I’ll learn. Even if it doesn’t go perfectly, I can grow. Even if I feel unprepared, I can start.”
Faith doesn’t eliminate fear—it overrides it with belief.
💡 Your Story Shapes Your Response
Challenges don’t determine your direction.
The story you tell yourself about them does.
You can say:
“This is too hard”
or
“This is teaching me something valuable.”
You can say:
“I’m stuck”
or
“I’m being strengthened.”
Same obstacle.
Different story.
Different leadership.
Different outcome.
The lens you choose determines who you become.
✨ Final Thought
Challenges come to everyone.
Only a few learn to see them with possibility instead of panic.
The question isn’t, “How big is my obstacle?”
The real question is:
What story am I telling myself about it?
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