Freedom for the Christian Athlete

How Trust in God Allows Christian Athletes to Compete with Freedom

Hey Rival –

From a young age, you’ve probably learned that sport promises to bring a lot to your life. It can help form your identity and affirm what you believe about yourself. It can also bring joy, give purpose, and even make you feel loved.

But what happens when you lose a big game? Or make a big mistake? Suddenly, those feelings can disappear, and a loss can shake your identity. Sport makes a lot of promises, but in competition, things don’t always go according to plan.

That’s why our identity in Christ matters. The Christian athlete doesn’t have to win to feel valuable or loved. In Jesus, we already have what sport can never guarantee —affirmation, joy, peace, and love. That truth sets us free to compete at our best.

The Christian athlete is free because we have no reason to fear failure. Even if we fail to live up to the expectations and pressure from the crowd, we know that God never fails. Feeling deep disappointment isn’t the same as calling yourself a "failure." We may lose a game, and that may hurt, but our identity in Christ is secure and doesn't change. Through His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus has provided us a way to eternal life. That includes freedom from sin and shame. That gift is far greater than anything sport could ever give us!

Application Questions:

• Are you afraid of losing or disappointing someone that you need to ask God to set you free from?
• What is a specific Bible verse that can remind you of your identity in Christ before competition? (You might consider Ephesians 2:10, Psalms 139:18, Matthew 5:14, or Romans 8:37).

Prayer:

"God, we thank You that You have given us everything we need in Jesus. Help us to compete with freedom and joy, knowing that You will never fail us. Would You remind us that your gift of grace is worth far more than any victory we could experience here on earth. Remind us that we are not striving for achievements that will fade but for a crown that lasts forever. (1 Corinthians 9:25). Amen."