Winning as Defined by God

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death," - Philippians 3:10

In high school girls tennis the middle of May brings the State High School Tennis Tournament. It never ceases to amaze me at how this game reveals the true heart of our young people and especially at state. This year one girl on our team really stood out to me as a prime example of how man's goals can significantly limit our potential.

In order to make it to the second day at state a player must win three grueling matches which then puts them in the semi-finals. The whole year this particular girl on our team made no secret of the fact that her goal was to make it to the second day of the tournament. Her play had been up and down her whole career as her biggest opponent when she stepped onto the court was herself.

However on this day at state, she was on her game. Being unseeded, she breezed through the 1st round and in the second round she gutted her way through a tough two set match against the five seed to give her a shot to make it to the second day...a quarter final match up with the four seed.

The whole match was amazing. I had not seen her play this well her whole career. She had incredible focus, intensity, and was able to listen and apply what the head coach was asking her to do during change overs. She ended up winning this match in a third set tiebreaker to make it to the state semi-finals the next day.

What a difference a day can make. She was nervous, tight, and had little energy on the court. She lost 6-0, 6-0 and then proceeded to lost her consolation match 6-0, 6-1. The sad part of it was that the girls she played were not that much better than the girl she had beat in the quarterfinals. Her goal was to make it to the second day and she accomplished that goal but what she didn't realize is how far short she fell from her potential.

As a Christian Athlete, the second day at state or even winning a state title is way to small of a goal. Paul had it figured out when God inspired him to write about his goal for us in Philippians 3:10: "I want to know Christ...becoming like him in his death," The goals that were previously mentioned leave us empty and unsatisfied because they are not the goals God has designed for us. The only way we will be truly victorious is when each day in sports and in life we know Christ more and have become more like Him. It is then that we will experience a sense of satisfaction because that is how God created us to live...to give Him glory.

Nate Lewis
FCA Area Representative
Western Nebraska