Where do we go from here?

Trusting and Glorifying God in Everyday Training

The biggest competitions of our careers draw the most attention. These are the moments we dream about, and what people remember. I used to ask myself, “How can I glorify God best in these moments?” But I learned that I don’t have to wait for these times — I can glorify God every day.

Life's daily disciplines test our faith. Our faith is shaped by the early morning alarms or the way we respond when we want to quit. It is tested by the way we handle conflict with a teammate. These moments seem small, but these are the moments where God refines us. These are great moments for us to praise and glorify God! These moments prepare us to step into major competitions not controlled by fear but rooted in His peace.

Do you see God as just a fan, cheering for you at the big meets, but absent during the grind of daily training? Or maybe as a good luck charm — someone you hope will show up and bless your performance when it matters most? Have you ever felt like you’ve needed to impress God with your performances?

I’ve wrestled with these thoughts throughout my journey. When I bring this mindset into swim meets, I am distant from God and overwhelmed. But the daily disciplines helped me finally realize something. I would never skip practice all season and expect to perform well at the championship. Why then should I expect to feel closest to God in my biggest moments if I haven’t been spending time with him daily?

When my alarm goes off at 5 AM, and it’s time to jump into a freezing pool, I have a decision to make. I could say: “This is awful. Why did I pick this sport? Why can’t I sleep in? Or I could say: “God, thank You for the discipline to pursue swimming and that I get to experience your gift to me twice a day. I am grateful for the ability to move my body in the way that fulfills your calling for me."

How about another? Think of a time when everything hurts and exhaustion sets in after a long workout or heavy training week. Do you find yourself thinking: “I don’t know if I can finish this. I can’t go one more. I failed.” Or do you think: “God, help me get through this rep. Give me the strength I need to finish. I trust you with the results. I will give everything because I love you.”

My natural response is to focus on how hard it is. But I’ve learned that anxiety and fear follow closely behind. But when I invite God into the moment — even in the smallest, mundane moments — I experience peace. (This change won’t happen overnight. Like any discipline, it takes practice and repetition. It takes being aware of our thoughts and directing ourselves back to truth. I’m still working on this myself!)

At the end of the day, glorifying and experiencing God doesn’t happen only in the big moments. It’s shaped by the habits and disciplines we build day to day. He’s there early in the morning, the hard sets, and when quitting feels like the best route. When we invite Him into every part of our journey, we experience a peace that doesn’t depend on our results. And that’s when sports become more than a competition. It becomes an act of worship.

Application Questions:

• What is one step that you can take right now toward God? If you’re not sure, ask God to help you.
• Now find a Christian friend or mentor and ask them to help you on this daily journey toward God.

Prayer:

"God, thank You for this journey You have me on through my sport. Thank You for the countless times You provide for me without me acknowledging You are there. Turn my heart away from self-centeredness and towards finding you in the midst of every day. Help me build up the endurance to stay faithful to the plan you set out for me. Shape me into the person who loves and trusts You in every circumstance. In Your name, Amen."

Summary

The biblical story of Joseph has applications to the life of an athlete.

Joseph, one of Jacob’s sons, had dreams of greatness and leadership as a young man. But his journey had hardships and setbacks. It is like an athlete's injuries or failures. He experienced bad calls and injustice. Despite the trials, Joseph trusted God, maintained his integrity, and continued to persevere.

Over time, Joseph’s faith and perseverance saw a reward. He rose to power and ultimately saved his family and many others from famine. Joseph understood that God was working, even when the path seemed unclear. Through it all, he gave glory to God.

Our prayer is that before, during, and after your competition, you will have a similar perspective. Keep God's word in front of you and focus your eyes on Him!

Next Steps

Athletes in Action has other plans dealing with sports. You can use those plans to also equip you for competition. You can find those plans on the AIA Connection page in the Bible App. Click the "Follow" button to receive notifications of new content.

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