lessons in soccer and spiritual growth.
“What are you willing to give up?”
This was the infamous question my dad (who was also my soccer coach) posed to my team before our seventh-grade season. “Do you want to win the championship?” he asked us. “And if you do, what are you willing to sacrifice to get there?”
Initially, my teammates and I couldn’t help but laugh at his question. Us, winning the championship? Not a chance. We had finished last in the league the previous year, struggling against every team we faced.
But my dad saw something we didn’t: our untapped potential. He believed we could win, but he also knew it would require hard work and sacrifice.
Our Path to Success
Looking back, there were three things my team gave up that soccer season:
We gave up time: We practiced our skills, speed, and endurance in the sweltering heat of summer afternoons. While we could have been lounging by the pool or hanging out with friends, we were having soccer camp in my front yard.
We gave up negative habits: We let go of laziness and indifference, stopped quitting when things got hard, and learned to show up with discipline and perseverance.
We gave up unbelief: The biggest hurdle we had to overcome was our own doubt. If we were going to win, we had to believe it was possible.
Applying These Principles to Spiritual Growth
Recently, I’ve seen how these same principles apply to spiritual development. In the same way that my soccer team made sacrifices, we are invited to make choices that help us grow in faith.
Give up time: We must carve out moments to pray and to read God’s Word. Jesus often withdrew to connect with God, setting an example for us.
Give up negative habits: Ephesians 4:22-24 urges us to discard our old sinful nature and our former way of life. We need to let go of habits that hinder us.
Give up unbelief: We must embrace faith, or belief. Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as “the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” We must put our confidence in Jesus, trusting that His words are true and His plans are good.
The Eternal Prize
While accolades on this earth are temporary, the reward for those who follow Christ is eternal. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 says, “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.”
And if our ultimate goal as Christ followers is to live a life that glorifies God, we must get rid of anything that hinders us. Hebrews 12:1-2 urges us to “strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
The Christian life requires giving some things up, and it is certainly not the easy road. But here’s something so incredible about God: He gave up more than we ever will.
The Ultimate Sacrifice
Looking back on my seventh-grade soccer season, I see that my dad sacrificed more than all of us on the team combined. He dedicated hundreds of hours to practices, invested in coaching clinics, and gave up time with family in order to coach the team.
While my dad’s dedication helped us achieve success in soccer, God’s sacrifice offers us something infinitely greater. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” What we give up pales in comparison to the magnitude of Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross.
Trusting the Process
There is victory on the other side of sacrifice. When my dad encouraged us to practice extra hours, he wasn’t trying to take away our free time or make us miserable. It was his love for the team and the desire to see us thrive as soccer players that motivated his demands. My dad understood the cost of success and knew that our hard work would yield great results.
And he was right! After a long year of practicing hard and embracing new habits, we won the soccer championship, beating the previously undefeated team! The joy we felt after the final whistle blew made every moment of sacrifice worth it.
Just like my dad, God desires for us to live joyful and fulfilling lives, free from the burdens that hold us back. When we prioritize time with God, obey His commands, and make the continual decision to trust Him, we will live each day filled with purpose and peace.
Ask yourself these questions:
Is there anything holding me back from a deeper relationship with God?
Should I dedicate more time to connect with Him?
Are there unhealthy habits I need to let go of?
Am I trusting God in every area of my life?
If these questions resonate with you, perhaps God is inviting you into a deeper relationship with Him. Today, I challenge you with the same question my dad asked my soccer team: What are you willing to give up?
