FCA Devotional--making the cut ...tackling the pressure to perform

Originally posted to Fellowship of Christian Athletes Website

Ready:  "For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;" -1 Corinthians 1:26-27

Set:  Many of us struggle with the constant pressure to be perfect within athletics. We get caught up seeking unreliable affirmation through our performance, so when things don't go our way many times we feel discouraged.

Tryouts are a great example. We work day in and day out to prove we ARE worthy of a spot. Summers we run sprints in the heat, nights we lift in the weight room and it feels like every second is spent honing our skills.

All that work leads to the moment tryouts finish and we run to the gym door to see if our name is one of the few listed on the final roster. Usually making the cut is a long process that requires hard work, focus and countless hours of training. To win a spot on the roster YOU have to earn it.

But, the challenges don't just stop after making the team. That's just the beginning. Next, we must constantly work to improve in order to get a chance at starting. The demands are never ending. If success within athletics was all we had to hope for in life then an injury could be devastating and each day overwhelming.

Fortunately for those of us that are Christ followers, we don't have to constantly worry about being good enough. On God's team the tryout's already been conducted and only one person was worthy of eternal life in Heaven: Jesus Christ. Jesus performed flawlessly with a life of service and love. He then chose to give up HIS roster spot, so that we could be apart of the team too.

So even though the challenges within our sport aren't ending anytime soon, we can be encouraged in the fact that despite our performance God loves us continually--and our spot on His team is secure.

Go: 

1. How can I make sure I'm not putting too much value in my athletic performance?
2. How can I use my challenges within athletics better serve God?
3. Who on my team needs to be reminded that God's the only one who will satisfy?

Workout:  Lord, thank you for the gift of athletics. Thank you that I can worship you through sports. Lord, when I go through challenges within my life and athletics, help remind me that no matter how many times I fail I will always be valuable in your eyes. God help me remember the sacrifice that you paid, so that I don't constantly have to worry about being good enough to be your child. Amen.

Overtime: 
2 Timothy 1:8-9
1 Peter 2:21
Isaiah 43:1
2 Peter 1:3

About the Author:

Britton Lynn serves alongside FCA North Alabama speaking at FCA events and leading huddles. Britton also coaches soccer through North Star Youth Ministries. Britton currently lives in Birmingham where she is a Traffic Anchor and Sports Reporter at FOX6.

- See more at: http://fcaresources.com/devotional/2013/10/09/making-cut#sthash.WgUzqrwS.dpuf