“If you can do the small things well, He can give you big things.”~Dr. Jasmin Sculark
Source: Sports Spectrum
Facing a loss is hard. It can be really hard. But as a Christian athlete, or Christian anyone, it is important to know that you can’t be defeated. Yes, you can lose a battle on the field or a game. Yet, you cannot be defeated. God has already won and since He is in you, you cannot be defeated.
So, it’s important to remember how you handle a loss is important. So, where do you go . . . what do you do after a loss?
The answer is not going back. The answer is not in staying neutral; the answer is going forward. When you hit the wall, you must go forward. You must continue to trust God and push forward. You must keep hitting the gym . . . you must keep practicing . . . keep rehabbing . . . keep playing the game. Pray, read your Bible, spend time with Christian friends that can hold you accountable on and off the field. Let your haters keep drinking their hate. Practice your faith. You glorify God by the practice of your faith. It doesn’t matter if do not win . . . you cannot lose.
Every step is a slap in your haters and Satan’s face. When you don’t give in and you share your story, God gets the glory. The sports platform is God’s gift to you, but you can either waste it feeling sorry for yourself or force yourself with God’s help to continue to perform. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV).
Someone needs to see your story. Someone needs to know Christ. Your platform allows you to take a loss, get back up and fight again. It’s a silent protest against darkness, against your enemy on the field, against your demons off the field and hope to the world that He who resides in you will win.
In the words of Rev. Dr. F. Bruce Williams, “Exercise your faith. . . . When you take a step, God takes a step. God with you is a majority.” In the Book of Joshua the Lord said, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go (1:9 ESV).” In other words, “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith (1 John 5:4 ESV).”