Compete to Experience God’s Love, not Personal Validation

Competition

Since starting my walk with God, experiencing God's love has been one of my biggest struggles. The culture of sports thrives on individual validation and success. It teaches us that we matter because of our accomplishments. It tells us we only matter if we are better, faster, or more accomplished than the next person. For most of my life, I believed that. I thought, “If I just make the Olympics, people will finally respect me, and I won’t need to prove myself anymore.” But there is a deeper reality behind that thought. It is the idea that “If I make the Olympics, maybe I’ll finally feel seen, valued, and loved.”

Spoiler alert: God sees us and we are valued and loved in Christ! But even when we know this truth, it’s hard to believe in the heat of competition. When I’m behind the starting block, distracted by the noise of the crowd and intensity of the moment, the "what ifs" creep in. What if I fail? What if he beats me? Will I still matter? Will people still love me? Without the firm foundation of Christ, these thoughts send us on an emotional rollercoaster. It leaves us shaken before we even hit the water or the field.

At the Olympic Trials, five minutes before my race, every ounce of my body fought those thoughts. Then I remembered: “God, thank You for answering my prayers and allowing me to compete in this race tonight.” Suddenly, everything shifted. The moment I had spent my whole life dreaming about was here. Now, instead of fearing it, I could praise God for it. I prayed, “God, thank You for giving me this energy and adrenaline to perform well. Thank You for giving me a body capable of swimming fast. Thank You for loving me no matter how this race turns out.”

And just like that, I walked to my block with a clear mind. My body buzzed with adrenaline, but the good kind. Not fear, not pressure, just pure excitement and curiosity for the moment. Win or lose, I am secure in Him.

God never intended for sports to be a measuring stick for our worth. He gave us sports as a gift. We can enjoy this gift and glorify Him through it. We experience His love in this process. When we compete from a place of knowing we’re already loved, we’re free. Free from pressure, free from fear, free to do what we were created to do — with joy.

Application Question:

• When distracting thoughts arise—whether from the crowd or your own mind—take hold of them right away. Remind yourself of a Scripture that affirms your identity and worth in God’s love, then follow it with a prayer.

Prayer:

"God, thank You for this opportunity. Thank you that You’ve given me the ability to move my body and compete for my joy, not for my value. I praise You because You have promised me good things regardless of this opportunity in front of me. Thank you even for the nerves, and I ask that You remind me of Your truths in my heart and head today. Shape me into the person who loves and trusts You in every circumstance. In Your name, Amen."