I love watching ice skating in the Winter Olympics. The sparkles. The drama. The way they spin like gravity is just a suggestion. I’m in awe every time.
And then there are the commentators. They’ll watch a skater glide across the ice with superhuman strength and grace… and gently note, “Mmm, slight wobble on the landing.” A slight wobble? Most of us would have fallen, taken out a judge, and needed medical attention.
I know they’re doing their job. They’re experts. They’re helping the rest of us understand the technical side of things. But sometimes it makes me think.
Because I already have a commentator in my head.
You too?
That little voice that narrates the day: “You could’ve handled that better.” “Why did you say that?” “Well, that wasn’t your best.” Sometimes I even confuse that voice with God’s voice — like He’s up there with a clipboard, rating my performance and deducting points for every imperfect landing.
Growth is good. Self-awareness is healthy. But beating ourselves up? Being our own harshest critic? That rarely produces beautiful things in our lives. It usually just produces fear.
Here’s the truth: God is not a cold, detached commentator.
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” — Zephaniah 3:17
He’s not circling your flaws. He’s delighting in you. Rejoicing over you. Singing.
The next time that inner commentator starts deducting points, pause for a moment. Ask yourself: does this sound like love… or like fear?
Friend, that’s the voice we can trust.
