Fear is the enemy of faith. It belongs to Satan, not Jesus. So, in everything I do now in my life is based on, “I am a Child of God” with a mindset of Christ This mindset has not always been within my insights. When we are in a position of need, it allows us to see how much we need God (2 Corinthians 1:9; 3:5; 13:4.). The more aware we are of our weakness, the more God can reveal His power through us: “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (2 Corinthians 4:7.
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his Law Day and night". Psalm 1:1-3
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I want to share with you today a testimony about the strength of God in us. As an athlete, I have experienced firsthand the power of God's strength in my life, even during the most challenging and difficult seasons. I want to share with you three stories from my personal journey, where I have witnessed the transformative power of God's strength in my life.
The first story is about a particularly difficult season of my career as a freshman Black athlete in an all-white community in Ames, Iowa. I was struggling to keep up with my studies, and I found myself falling behind in my classes. I blamed it on my skin color, feeling like a victim of discrimination. I wasn't going to class, and my grades suffered as a result.
But God had a plan for me. As I re-read a quote by James Baldwin’s,” the skin and blood don’t think,” it highlighted the idea to me that a person’s race or physical appearance does not determine their worth or capabilities. That quote influences my mindset to not be a victim by reminding me that discrimination or prejudice thoughts based on my skin color is unjustified and irrational. Then God demonstrated His love in the most generous act the world will ever know. He sent His own Son, Jesus, to earth to take the punishment our sins deserve (John 3:16-18; Colossians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21) and
sent me a mentor who didn’t look like me but who saw something in me that I couldn't see in myself. He encouraged me to take responsibility for my actions, to work harder, and to believe in myself. Through his guidance and support, I was able to turn my grades around and succeed in my studies.
Through this experience, I learned that God's strength is not limited by our circumstances or our background. He is with us always, offering us the strength we need to face our challenges head-on and to succeed in all that we do. If we lean on Him and trust in His plan, He will guide us through even the toughest of times.
The second story is about dealing with a career-ending ACL knee injury as an athlete. It was a devastating blow that left me feeling lost and uncertain about my future. I had always identified myself as an athlete, and now that part of my life was over.
But even during my pain and uncertainty, I felt God's presence with me, offering me His strength and His peace. He reminded me that my worth and my identity were not tied to my athletic abilities or my success on the field. Instead, my worth came from being a child of God, loved and cherished by Him.
Through this experience, I learned that God's strength is not just for the good times. It is also for the hard times, the painful times, and the times when we feel lost and uncertain. He is with us always, offering us His comfort, His guidance, and his unwavering love. If we trust in Him and lean on His strength, He will carry us through even the toughest of times.
The third story is about being fired as a football coach. It was a humbling experience that left me feeling lost and uncertain about my future. But even amid my pain and uncertainty, I felt God's presence with me, offering me His strength and His peace. He reminded me that my worth and my identity were not tied to my job title or my success on the football field. Instead, my worth came from being a child of God, loved and cherished by Him. Funny thing five years later God worked in my life through an unexpected twist and turn. Despite facing rejection and setback, my journey eventually led me back to where I was meant to be, in a position of leadership and success at my former school as head football coach again.
Through this experience, I learned to lean on God's strength and trust in His plan for my life. I discovered that even during our trials and struggles, God is with us, offering us His comfort, His guidance, and his unwavering love. If we trust in Him and lean on His strength, He will guide us through even the toughest of times. It also reminded me that even when we can’t see the bigger picture, God is always working behind the scenes to guide us towards our purpose.
In conclusion, the strength of God in us is a powerful force that can transform our lives and carry us through even the most challenging of times. God’s strength is made perfect in weakness when we put our faith and trust in Him. The Lord’s presence is all we need in times of weakness. His great power and sufficiency rest on us as we find our strength in Him, and He is glorified. We can say with the psalmist, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever”. Psalm 73:26
Whether we are facing discrimination, career-ending injuries, or job loss, God is with us, offering us His strength, His peace, and his unwavering love. If we trust in Him and lean on His strength, He will guide us through even the toughest of times. As it says in Isaiah 41:10, "Fear not.
God's Strength in Athletics.
God Bless You and This Ministry!
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