Freedom in ForgivenessChikamu

Only God

Ready: “What you say flows from what is in your heart.” —Luke 6:45b

Set: Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney’s journey to success hasn’t come without its share of difficulties—places and moments where he has clung even closer to the Lord. 

It was in his tumultuous childhood fueled by his father Ervil’s alcohol-induced tirades, financial struggles, and his parents’ divorce, where Swinney held to his faith in Christ. Circumstances didn’t immediately change, but his spirit and perception did.

With Christ’s example of forgiveness in mind, Swinney eventually softened his heart toward his father while in college. He even initiated reconciliation with Ervil—a poignant testament to the power of God’s transforming grace.

“I finally stopped trying to change him and gave that to the Lord and prayed for him and said, ‘I’m going to love him anyway’ and forgave him,” Swinney says. “That’s what Christ did for me and Christ taught me, so I just forgave him and let it go and loved him anyway, no matter what.”

His softened heart now extends to his players and program, in a people-loving, God-honoring atmosphere. Swinney constantly talks to his players about not being defined by trophies and preaches the journey more than the destination. He urges his players to learn from the good and bad in life and apply it in the future.

All his wisdom stems from a Christian faith that was forged in great trials and strengthened over the years by redemptive grace—.Joshua Cooley

Go:

1. Has your difficult background made it hard to let go of bitterness? How can you let God help with this?

2. What do you think God is asking you to do with a difficult teammate or coach right now?

3. List three ways you can practically offer grace and mercy to someone in need of them today.

Overtime: Father, thank You that You first forgave me. It is only by Your grace alone can my heart soften towards those who have hurt me. Give me Your mercy and heart to see others in need of Your love and offer forgiveness. Amen.

This text appeared in FCA Magazine. Follow @FCAMag on Twitter for more faith and sports content. Click here.