Confidence in the Game

My little baller eats, sleeps, and breathes basketball!  She desires to play basketball every minute.  Her day consists of dribbling a ball in the foyer of our home, playing in the driveway, attending practice, attending a game or watching basketball on YouTube. Her passion is evident to all. 

I love watching her play.  Worry seeps in as the stats from the opposing team reveal.  I constantly tell her to go out on the court and play her game.  The other team matters none.  A stat of 7-1 from the opposing team does not steal any skill my little baller possesses. 

She walks away from games, win or lose, head held high!  She gleams, reenacts tricky moves made to add points to the board and rests confidently in herself.  I am quick to veer her praise toward the One Who provided such skill/passion.  Her response?  “I know mom!”  “God gave me this ability.”  (insert rolling of the eyes)

In all truth, God did provide the ability this little girl possesses.  He also provided the joy, sportsmanship, love and friendship shared with teammates.  My little baller enjoys the game.  My little baller enjoys the crowd.  My little baller enjoys every person on the court.  While being faithful to her team, she would not hesitate to join another if they needed a player.  She just loves being in the game and giving her all every time the ball touches her hands.

Self-confidence is great; but, must fall second to God-confidence!  I thank God for my little baller.  I love watching her passion on the court and being confident in self.  It takes me back to my own childhood.  I held the same confidence.  Then, life entered the scene and storms moved in to steal passion, joy, confidence and love.  I lost a position on the only team I knew in life.  I lost the only purpose I believed in life.  I lost it all!  Or so I thought. . .

Self-confidence is great; but, leaves us to rely solely on self for survival in storms of life.  We were not created to function in life alone.  We were not created to maintain a position on the worldly team.  Our purpose does not include trophies, crowd applause, high standings or greater skills than the next person.

 

God-confidence is BETTER and fills us with purpose.  This provides any tool required to survive storms and come through even stronger than before.  We were created to maintain a position on God’s team.  Our purpose includes to love, follow, respect and honor God.  All other things will fall into place once we stand firm on a foundation built with Truth.

It took me twenty-five+ years to figure out why my foundation continued to crumble.  I worked with all strength to find self-confidence based on worldly standards.  This left me exhausted, depressed, failing and ready to throw in the towel on this thing called life.  Truth by Truth, I realized I sat on the wrong bench.  I ran the wrong plays.  I focused too much on the stats of the opposing teams, killing all confidence.  I walked away daily with my head down.  The day ran through my mind, highlighting every failure, missed opportunity and ending loss!

Yes, I love that my daughter holds self-confidence in her basketball abilities.  Yes, I agree that she is a wonderful ball player.  Yes, she holds a great purpose on that team.

 

But, I pray her foundation in life is built on Truth.  No matter her position in life, the number of trophies on the shelf or amount of points earned, she is made in the image of God.  Her life exists for a mighty purpose, already being fulfilled by God.  I pray it does not take her twenty-five+ years to realize the Truth which to build a foundation.  I pray she never sits the bench in life; but, assures she remains on God’s team. 

Just like the game of basketball, the game of life can be tough.  We might come up against opposition with stats surpassing our abilities.  We might miss a pass, lose the ball, fall mid play or fail to follow the Coach’s guidance.  It happens.  Don’t let the struggle of today crumble your foundation.  Don’t let the enemy steal the Truth found in every situation.  Stay strong my friends!  Live with God-confidence!

        

Happy Sunday!  What will the game of life bring today?

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig