7 Habits of a Grateful AthleteSample

GRATEFUL ATHLETES LOOK FOR SILVER LININGS 

If there was ever a verse forcing us to understand the concept of silver linings, it is Romans 8:28. Why? Because God promises us through this verse that everything in our life is being worked by God for our good. 

How about you? How do you react when things don’t go your way as an athlete? Growing our gratitude muscle means trusting that God is working everything in our athletic experience for His glory and our good—even when we would script things differently. 

Grateful athletes understand that life is not always going to be personal bests and championship trophies. There will be hardships in the form of injuries, losses, poor performance, and team conflict.

Grateful athletes do not pretend these circumstances do not exist or pretend they are not affected by them. They do, however, constantly ask themselves “What good can come of this or has already come of this?” in the midst of the struggle. They claim Romans 8:28, even when they have no favorable evidence for the good promised to them.

In difficult times, gratitude can be tough to grab onto. Grateful athletes make an effort to step back, look at the bigger picture, and cling to any silver lining they find.

Today’s Gratitude Challenge: Think back of the last hardship you have faced in your sport. Ask God to reveal to you what good came from that time in your life. Be still and see what comes to mind. Did you make any new friends? Did you come away with a better perspective? Are you a better athlete because of it? Whatever the good is, write it down and thank God for using the hardship in your life in that particular way.