Coach Vs. Cheerleader

I have been pondering lately the difference between a coach and a cheerleader. According to dictionary.com the definition of cheerleader is... “a person who leads spectators in traditional or formal cheering, especially at a pep rally or athletic event.”

The downfall to cheerleaders

We all need spiritual cheerleaders in our lives, but the dilemma with a spiritual cheerleader is that they only show up for the main event. They are not there to cheer us on when we are in the trenches of your spiritual workouts. They don’t see the blood, sweat and tears that have enabled us to have the victories on the playing field. They are not there to hold our hands, pat us on the back and pick us up when the preparation for the battle is so hard we have already talked ourselves into giving up. While spiritual cheerleaders are a blessing to have at the big event, they somehow miss the mark when it comes to cheering us on through the valleys of our spiritual walk.

The spiritual coach

In contrast to a spiritual cheerleader is a spiritual coach. Dictionary.com defines the word coach as… “one who instructs or trains; especially : one who instructs players in the fundamentals of a sport and directs team strategy” Coaches are not only teachers and trainers, but they are also a motivators. In other words, they are also cheerleaders. They push us to go farther than we ever thought we could. They are right beside us through all of the blood, sweat and tears. Coaches walk with us in the valleys and on the soar with us on the mountain tops. They pick us up when we fall and they carry us when we are broken. They are there to quiet the inner voices that tell us to throw in the towel and give up. Coaches can be our mentors, our heroes and some of our closest friends. When we look in the mirror and see mediocrity, a coach will look  us in the eye and remind us that mediocrity does not fall down and get back up like we have just done. A sideline spiritual cheerleader will not do anything like this for our everyday lives.

I have touched in previous posts that I  have a background in the world of running, but I never have gone into any detail. Today, I’d like to share with you a small glimpse into that world and just how much it has taught me though it’s many twists and turns, and hopefully show you how it relates to my topic of coaches and cheerleaders. In high school and college I ran both track and field and cross country. So, needless to say I have had some experiences over the years with coaches. Some of my coaches have left their imprint in my life in a very positive way forever. I have had coaches who knew me so well that they could predict how my race was going to go before the gun ever went off. I’ve had coaches who pushed me so hard that I actually vomited. I’ve had coaches who found levels within me that I never knew existed. I know that if they would not have been a part of my life I would never have had some of the amazing opportunities that I have had in my running career. I also look back and am humbled by the lifelong lessons that these coaches were teaching me that extended far beyond the the world of running.

I also played basketball in high school, and for our home games we always had a cheer-leading squad attend our games. Can These cheerleaders always did a great job at cheering us on in our games, but they did come anywhere close to the outpouring that my coaches had done with all of the hours and hours of preparation prior to the game buzzer going off. Yes, they got the crowd to cheer and chant, but that did nothing to help in all those countless hours of preparation when there was no crowd present. The sacrifice and relationship was not there like it was with my coaches. That’s who motivated me to do better. That’s who inspired me to work harder, not the cheerleaders on the sideline.

Please note here, I am in no way trying to bash cheerleaders! I was grateful for their efforts. I am just trying to make a comparison, that while cheerleaders are needed at the event, we must be careful that we do not fall into the “cheerleader” mentality when it comes to the spiritual walks of our brothers and sisters in the Lord. There will be times when they need more then just a cheerleader. There will be times when they need a coach who is going to hang in there with them day in and day out, and not just for the big events.    

How about you, are you a spiritual cheerleader or a spiritual coach? I believe we are all called to be spiritual coaches to different people in our lives. Are you a mother or father, then you are definitely called to be a spiritual coach. Are you a brother or a sister? Then you are called to be a spiritual coach. Are you a friend? Then you are called to be a spiritual coach.

Call to action

Some of you may already have someone in your life that has set a beautiful example of what a spiritual coach should look like and that is wonderful! May I encourage you to replicate that relationship for someone else. If you don’t have anyone who has been that example for you, then my challenge for you is this, be that example of a spiritual coach to someone.

Father, we thank you for sending people into our lives who teach us and mold us in your ways. Thank you for sending your son to be our ultimate spiritual coach, there is no better example! Show us who we can become a spiritual coach too. Show us who we can walk with in the toughest of times and come out the other side with in victory. Show us whose hands we can help to hold up. Lord, you have established your kingdom to be a training grounds, a teaching and a bringing up of the next generation of believers. Give us your heart to coach up others. Help us to avoid getting caught up in only attending the big spiritual events and help us to walk in the trenches with others.

For more on this subject please visit: Training Others In Kingdom Living

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