Elite Athletes Encounter GodSample

Identity beyond gold

Elana Meyers (USA)
4 x World Champion and 3 Olympic Medals in Bobsleigh 

My life before Jesus was a life centered on trying to find happiness in external things. I focused on my achievements and accomplishments to define who I was, and therefore when I was unsuccessful, I also defined myself as unimportant or worthless. I focused all of my energy into earning awards and trying to please other people so that I could feel as though my life had value. I looked for my personal worth in people and things that I had no control over, and that I was constantly seeking control. 

During my freshman year of college, my softball team was struggling, as was my performance. I began to feel like I lacked control over the situation and was helpless to change my circumstances, and was desperately seeking control over something in my life. What I began to realize was that there was something I could control: my diet and my weight. I began to obsess about how much I weighed, and soon began starving myself. I finally realized that I needed help.

Desperate, I reached out for help. I was placed in a psychiatric program. Although I recognized things had gotten out of hand and was seeking treatment, I was still trying to control the situation and my condition continued to worsen.

I soon realized I needed something else in my life. I began reading on various religions. I began my search with a book on Buddhism, but oddly enough, around the same time my Jewish friend bought me a copy a Christian book called, “The Purpose Driven Life”. I would read one chapter out of the Christian book, and then one chapter out of the book about Buddhism. Then, one day while I was on my second hour of a workout on an elliptical, I was reading my Buddhist book, and I started crying; in that instant, I knew that I didn’t have to have control, that God had control of my life. In that moment my relationship with Christ began. I felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders, God had made my burden lighter. And just as easily as I was caught up in the addiction that is an eating disorder, God had removed my addiction and set me free.

Since then, I am walking with Jesus. I still struggle with temptations and have to endure sufferings, but I am not alone anymore - HE is with me. I made it to the Olympic Games which I am very proud of. Still, I recognize who it comes from, and I give God all the glory for it. 

Action Step

God also wants to encounter YOU. Invite the Holy Spirit to read the bible passage with you and expect that he will speak to you. Trust that God will show you the steps you should take in your own life. Ask Him for strength and courage to follow his voice.