Joy through the Process

After Competition

Psalm 20:5: “We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant you all your requests.”

Close your eyes and think of your favorite moment of victory in your sport. Take a deep breath and put yourself back in that space. Think about how you felt, what you were saying, and your reaction to that winning moment.

It’s easy to praise God and be joyful when we win, and we should! Victory is something worthy of celebration. It would be great if God answered every prayer to win a game. But this isn’t reality. Sometimes, we give our best, and we still lose. What do we do then?

The book of James tells us to count it all joy when we face trials. Wait a second…God wants us to be joyful not only when we win but also when we lose? Yes, He does!

Losing is painful, and no athlete enjoys that feeling. But we must understand that in every challenge, there is a purpose. In James, God tells us the purpose is to develop perseverance.

My college career didn’t begin the way I had hoped. Three weeks into the season, I suffered a season-ending ACL tear, my second in a year. I went through rehab and worked really hard to be ready for the next season. Only a few days into preseason, I suffered a third knee injury, forcing me to miss another season.

It would have been easy to get upset with God, sulk in my circumstances, and lose hope. But I trusted that God was preparing me for something better.

He allows us to go through pain so we can grow and develop into mature followers of Christ. I found joy in knowing God was molding me into something better. I carried that assurance into that challenging season of injuries. Because of that joy, I was able to mentor other teammates. Three years later, that perseverance paid off. I signed a contract to play for a professional soccer team.

God cares about whether we win or lose and whether we are healthy or injured. But He cares much more about who we are than what we accomplish. We can be joyful during challenges, trusting that God is working everything for our good (Romans 8:28). We can find joy in knowing that God is working on our hearts to make us more like Him. Becoming more like Jesus is something worth celebrating!

When we win, I praise Jesus and give God the glory. When I am able to compete at my best, I praise God for allowing me to do what I love. When we lose, I still praise Jesus and thank Him for shaping me into who He created me to be.

Application Questions:

• What Bible verse can remind you God is still working when you are going through something difficult?
• Who is someone who can encourage you to stay faithful in praise after a loss, during an injury, or any other moment of adversity?

Prayer:

God, we thank You that You work all things together for our good. Help us remember to give You all the glory when we are successful and help us remember to continue to praise You when we aren’t. We know that in every season and through every challenge, You are with us. Help us find joy in the process of becoming more like You, even when it’s painful.