Winning Through the Doubtstorm
Many times, in our lives, we face doubt. Author Max Lucado calls these moments “doubtstorms.” If you’ve lived long enough, you’ve likely weathered one.
Let me ask you, have you ever had a doubtstorm? Last weekend, I attended a junior college baseball doubleheader, and what I witnessed was a powerful reminder of how we should respond when doubt rolls in. In the first game, the Fort Scott Community College Greyhounds baseball team fell behind early, 8-0. Most folks in the stands probably thought the game was over. Not the players in the dugout though. Not that team.
Why? Because their coach doesn’t think that way. Inning by inning, they chipped away. Two runs. Then three. Then two more. They stayed steady, consistent, and relentless. By the final out, they had turned an 8-0 deficit into a 13-8 victory.
You might say that was luck. Then came game two. In the first inning, they were down 11-1. A ten-run deficit. That’s a mountain in junior college baseball, a level filled with talent, grit, and future professionals. Once again, the Greyhounds didn’t flinch. They stayed locked in. One inning at a time, they battled back. And once again, they won. Final score: 20-16.
That’s not luck. That’s belief. There’s a passage in the Gospel of Matthew 14:25 where the disciples are caught in a storm, filled with fear and doubt. Then Jesus comes to them, walking on the water. In their doubtstorm, they couldn’t see clearly, but He was there all along.
Life works the same way. There is a window in every heart through which we see God. At one time, that window is clear, but then life happens; a loss, a diagnosis, a disappointment, and a rock cracks the glass. Suddenly, our view isn’t so clear anymore.
Here’s the truth: even when the storm clouds roll in, even when we can’t see Him, God is still there. That same steady belief is reflected in leadership. John Hill, now in his 18th year as head coach with over 600 wins, leads with calm and consistency. His players trust him because he trusts them. His philosophy is simple; consistency, persistence, and time. That belief shows up when it matters most.
Thought for the Week, “When doubtstorms come, and they will, stay steady. Trust the process. Trust your purpose. Most importantly, trust that you are never alone in the storm.” Gerald “Judge” Hart, former District Judge and longtime loved FSCC professor.
Dr. Jack Welch serves as President of Fort Scott Community College. With a career spanning professional sports, public education, and rural community development, he brings a servant-leader mindset and a passion for building trust-driven cultures that empower people to thrive in the classroom, on the field, and in life. He is also the author of Foundations of Coaching: The Total Coaching Manual.