2 Timothy 1:7
Wrestling provides us many opportunities to be afraid. It is a rare individual, quite possibly no one, who does not have to deal with the feeling of fear in some way, shape or form. I remember the first time I stepped on the mat as a college freshman. We were in a dual against Buena Vista University (Storm Lake, IA) and I was wrestling Matt Dyer. Matt was an upperclassman and had had some success in prior years. He was tall and lanky; exactly the build I tended to struggle with throughout my competitive days.
Prior to the match I went through my ritual of smacking the tar out of myself and building a level of hatred in me I felt properly prepared me for battle. Despite my efforts, I was paralyzed by fear of this new chapter in my career. I “needed” this to be good match. I could not lose! The result of me not properly handling this fear and not putting it in the right perspective was an 18-3 drumming that humbled me to the point I did not want to go back on the mat. I began to question my abilities and fear what people thought of me. This fear stifled my growth for years to come. The loose was not all bad, I did learn about 5 ways to get out of a cradle!
To this day, I deal with fear. There was a time in my life I felt that fear was a weakness; a result of a lack of faith. However, I have come to believe that fear, in and of itself, is a natural part of being a man, of being human. I believe one of the greatest warriors in the old testament, Joshua, dealt with some kind of fear when Moses passed, and he was given the reigns to lead the Israelites. Why else would God tell him three times to “be strong and courageous” (Joshua 1:6-9)? It was natural to be afraid.
When we fear, we are taking a hard look at who we are and what we believe we are capable of by our own strength and ability. The fault in fear is that we listen to this spirit of doubt and let it direct our path. It is my belief that God had big things in store for Joshua and He needed Joshua to face his fear and trust not in himself, but on the attributes of God. God charged Joshua to be courageous because true courage is not the absence of fear, but us refusing to allow fear to control our future.
I can choose to succumb to my natural inclination to be afraid of what might happen, or I can trust in what God has promised me. Paul tells his young protégé, Timothy, in his second letter that the Holy Spirit is not capable of fearing. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear (timidity), but of power of love and of discipline.” By seeking and listening and trusting in the spirit that dwells within each of His believers, we have within each of us the ability to overcome fear.
Again, wrestling gives us each a chance to look at fear face to face and push it to the side, because we trust that God has a plan for us. Embracing the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to take that shot, prepare for that match, enter that competition, or talk to that coach because we trust that God is in control of what is to come. I simply need to obey and take a step of faith.
It has taken me twenty years to try to overcome the paralyzing effects of fear, and I still need reminders. Fear was there when I became a husband, a father, a captain for my college team, a teacher, a high school coach, a college coach, a clinician, and even as I wrestled to become an All-American. I have had plenty of chances to master fear, and God has been faithful in each of those endeavors. But fear is still there. What I can do is to strive to cling to God’s word and “kindle afresh the gift of God which is in me” (2 Timothy 1:6). Corrie ten Boom wrote, “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” I may not know the result of what is to come, but if I am in God’s will I am never wrong to step out of my comfort zone and take a chance.
Parting Challenges:
What causes you to feel anxiety or fear?
Think back to a time in your life when you were paralyzed by fear and you later regretted your actions?
How do you typically respond to fear?
How does God want you to respond to fear?
About Rik Dahl-
Rik Dahl is entering his 5th season at the helm of Northwestern College's wrestling team. Dahl is the seventh coach since wrestling became a varsity sport at Northwestern in 1969. Dahl is a former All-American ('97) at Northwestern College and prior to coming to Northwestern he was the secondary principal and head wrestling coach at Big Sandy Schools in Simla, Colo.
As a student at Northwestern College, Dahl was a wrestling All-American and team captain on the 1997 wrestling team that finished eighth at the NAIA Championships, the highest finish for a Northwestern squad. Dahl was a semi-finalists and took sixth place under coach Paul Bartlett.
Under Dahl's leadership, the Red Raiders have sent 35 wrestlers to the NAIA National Tournament and crowned five All-Americans. Dahl's leadership is also evident off the mat as his 2009 and 2011 teams were crowned the NAIA Champions of Character for their strong character and their impact in and around the Northwestern Community. Eight of Dahl's wrestlers have been recognized as Academic All-Americans. His 2010 team had the 10th best GPA in the country at the NAIA level and the 2012 team had the eighth best GPA in the NAIA. He has also coached three NAIA Scholar-Athletes at Northwestern.
Dahl has led tremendous growth in the roster size of the wrestling team at Northwestern; going from ten in 2008-09 to 36 this season. This past fall the wrestling team brought in 12 recruits.
Dahl and his wife, Amy (Schmidt, ’93), have three sons and two daughters: Elijah, Joshua, Matthew, Abigai, and Grace.
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