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My Dream Comes True

At Penn State I was the captain of the football team. I was called to lead my team and inspire them. This was a humbling time and a time of growth in my faith in God. I needed God’s help to keep my head on straight as I led the team, and as I embraced my role as a father. I prayed, asking God to help my team and myself stay focused and be our best. As I spoke to my team, God used me to inspire them and draw us together in unity. I don’t remember everything I said, but we were all in. We stayed unified and I felt God at work.

As I moved forward leading my team, I also spent time on Skype with my daughter every week. She lived out of state, and I missed her and worried about how keep building our relationship. I loved her so much, and I needed to get her back in my life—football could make that happen. Even though all signs pointed to a future in the NFL, I had trouble getting on the lists for All-American. The politics surrounding college football also kept me from receiving several awards. But I had to stay focused despite the obstacles to my dream. Again, I prayed. And even though I played a great season, I had setbacks with injuries. These humbled me and made me question whether I should have slowed down and asked God for more guidance. 

When my last college season ended, I was free from the NCAA rules, so financial opportunities started to come. It was great to be able to help my family and have some fun, but money can’t buy you health and success—I was still healing from injuries, and my future wasn’t secure at this point. Because of my hard work, and inspite of difficult circumstances, I made it to the NFL Draft. I didn’t get picked in the first round, and I felt like a loser. I had often dreamed of the Draft, so I went back for round two and was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals. My parents and Leah were there, and when I looked at Leah’s smiling face in that moment, I knew that her life just got better. Now I understand that God was moving my life forward according to His plan.

There are so few players in the world who make it to the NFL, and I was one of them. That was a blessing. This was a dream come true. This was real. At my first NFL game, my whole family was in the stands. Leah was all dressed up as a Bengal’s cheerleader. This was the start of a whole new era for me and a new life for Leah, without the worries about money I’d grown up with. I still struggled to completely recover from injuries, but with God’s help I was holding my own and I appreciated every second I was on the field.

Respond

What motivates you to pray? 

What attitude do you have toward God and your circumstances when you pray?

How do difficult circumstances affect your talks with God? How do positive results affect your talks with God?