When I run, I run for God (A teens response to my last post)

The following is the best response I received from my last article; Are High School Sports Interfering with Teens Growing Deep? and it comes from a teenager. She’s a cross country runner at her local high school and she shares a brief testimony that blew me away. When I read it I knew I HAD to post it as a follow up. Thanks Jess for sharing your heart you’re awesome!

“I think this is a great question that lots of people choose to avoid. I mean, my Dad is REALLY into sports. My first year in high school, he told me I had to be in two sports at least. I HAD to. He gave me no other choice. “How else are you going to pay for college?” he asked me demandingly. I said nothing. What could I say? Back then, I wasn’t a Christian. God didn’t exist and I was an accident due to the ‘Big Bang Theory’.

That Fall, I decided I was going to be in cross country and track. Two days before cross country regions, I was involved in a car accident. The other driver, her children, and I were not injured physically, but I went to regions as a spiritual mess. I didn’t know what I believed in anymore. I was questioning death. I almost wished I HAD died. Needless to say, I didn’t make it to State that year. Missed it by two places. Dad was NOT happy…

However, that Summer, I was invited to go to a Christian camp with some friends. I was still in a spiritual battle then, but decided to go anyway. On the last day, I ended up going accepting Jesus as my savior and asked him into my heart. Nothing had EVER felt that good. Nothing!

Ever since then, sports and I have been a battle. Dad is EXTREMELY strict on what I’m doing. He, himself, is not a Christian and does not understand my faith. Whenever I go to youth group on Wednesdays, he rolls his eyes saying I should be doing something else instead, like conditioning. I don’t plan on continuing sports through college, and I told him that, too. It just made him angrier…

So, now I’m here in cross country. Dad isn’t any better. My coach is a Christian, but isn’t much of a help. I am expected to go to state, even though I’ve been blacking out at most of my practices due to a condition I got from the car accident. Anyone familiar with the BPPV disorder? Not. Fun. Think I’m feeling the pressure? Heck, yeah! But you know what? Regardless of EVERYTHING I’m doing with my sports. Regardless of EVERYTHING my Dad makes me do. Jesus Christ is my savior! He is my #1!

You ask us whether or not teens can find balance between playing sports and growing deep in their faith. I say of course we can. When I run, I run for God. Not myself. Not for my Dad, my coach, or for ANYONE else in this world. I run to glorify HIM, and Him alone!

When it comes to faith and other things, we all have to make a choice. Well, I’ve made mine and I intend to stand strong with it!” –Jess

(her response was originally posted on the Dare2Share message board)