The most powerful words a coach can give are: “You can do it!”
The first time a coach got me into a handstand, “You can do it!”
That time I was about to give up with 20 more reps to go, “You can do it!”
The first time I put 165 on my back, “You can do it!”
They are words that I need to hear, more often than I would care to admit. But they are powerful words, it’s true.
I try and remember these words as I coach in my own role. I remember my first truly momentous pastoral moment, when I had a group of college students responsible for guiding new students in our ministry. One night, our church was having two conflicting events, which put our team into extreme mode, and we needed to add about 10 more to our team. I picked 4 of our students to lead in particular sections, and each of these 4 not only recruited more students to help, but they were so awesomely amazing at their roles that I was barely needed.
I wonder sometimes what would have happened that night had I told them I needed to do it because they couldn’t. Instead, I believed in them and they rose to the occasion.
In my short 4 1/2 years of full-time ministry, I’ve been able to see how powerful these words can be. How they become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I can either tell someone they can, and they’ll rise to the occasion. Or I can tell someone they can’t, and they’ll fail before trying.
God’s grace is that God tells us often, “You can do it!” You can be the person I created you to be. You can love the way I showed you love. You are worthy, you are awesome, just because I created you to be.
You can do it!
Faith and Fitness 
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