Finding your identity beyond sports
When people ask you about yourself, what do you say?
“I’m a quarterback.”
“I play basketball.”
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“I’m from Portland.”
Those are all valid responses, but they won’t help people know you.
You see, what defines us is not our position, placement or any other label. It goes deeper than that. We can get so wrapped up in what we do that we forget who we are. And who we are is most important, because everything else flows from there.
God does not intend for us to be so preoccupied with our performance that we forget we are first and foremost beloved by Him.
“Now this is what the Lord says — the one who created you, Jacob, and the one who formed you, Israel — ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine’” (Isaiah 43:1).
Before Jesus ever did a single minute of public ministry, God looked down on Him and declared that Jesus was loved. He was rooted in His identity as the Father’s Son. He was baptized by His cousin, John, to fulfill the prophecy. Jesus gave us the example to follow, not because He needed to repent of any sin, but to stay in step with the will of His Father, which was His desire for His people to repent and be devoted to God.
“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. But John tried to stop him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?’
“Jesus answered him, ‘Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then John allowed him to be baptized.
“When Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water. The heavens suddenly opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased’” (Matthew 3:13-17).
This is God’s beloved Son, with whom He is well pleased. Not by anything He’s done, but simply because of who He is.
We, too, are God’s chosen people, and He calls us His children. This is the truth of who you are.
You are loved
The God of the universe looks at you and loves you intimately. He created us in His image, for His glory, and to share in close relationship with Him. There is nothing He has held back to bring us close, including giving up His Son Jesus to take away the sins of the world and bring us into the Kingdom of God forever.
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
You are chosen
God set us apart as His children. As such, we are invited into the wonderful world of God’s Kingdom. We share this Kingdom here on Earth and enjoy the benefits of being in God’s family. Peace, joy, love and hope — they are all ours in abundance.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
You are set apart
From the very beginning, God loved and chose you for His family, and He has set you apart as such. You are part of a special family, a royal priesthood, and God has given you good and specific things to do. You have influence in ways that only you can, and lives to touch that God has intentionally placed in your own life.
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
You are loved, you are chosen, and you are set apart. The more we lean into who we are in Christ, the more we begin to associate with the Kingdom of God and long to renew our minds, bodies and souls to what is pleasing to the Lord. It’s not in accomplishments or awards. Like Jesus, we don’t have to try and impress anyone with our stats or position. We can rest in our status as God’s beloved children.
Sarah Freymuth is the Communications Manager for Fellowship of Christian Athletes and writes content for blogs, articles, Bible reading plans and devotionals that share God's heart with coaches and athletes. She played softball for Concordia University Wisconsin, is in their Hall of Fame, and has led FCA Huddles since high school.
