Soul Care for Injured Athletes: Identity
This is the first in a four-part series, written by Kayla Norman, about how athletes can approach injuries in a way that honors God and utilizes the resources that God has given us for hard seasons of life. Kayla is from metro Atlanta (Decatur) and was a four year starter and captain for the University of Florida women’s basketball team (2010-2015). She has served in ministry for over 10 years, ranging from HS Bible teacher to FCA field staff. Kayla is a graduate of Moody Theological Seminary with a MA in Biblical studies. She is married to Christian who is the associate pastor at First Baptist Woodstock and they have three children (Sophia 5, Deuce 3, and Naomi 1).
People say that money doesn’t make a person, it only magnifies who they are. Similarly, I believe that for athletes injuries reveal “who we believe we are.” I put that in quotation marks because the reality for most athletes is most of have meshed who we are with what what we do. When I got hurt the first time and was sidelined, I remember thinking “Who am I?” Why, at 19, was I suddenly having this identity crisis? The answer was that once I started playing basketball at the age of 7 and deciding it was going to be my thing, it went from I like doing this thing to I AM this thing. I am Kayla, the hooper. Additionally, from as early as I can remember, I’ve always craved the affirmation and approval of others: parents, teachers, coaches etc. It doesn’t help that everyone around you compounds the problem by referring to you by a title or position you hold.
The internalization of your sport as your identity is easy, natural even. The problem is that version of “shalom” is an imposter. Contrary to popular belief, we don’t get to choose an identity. Identity is given. And identity is received. Who gives it? So glad you asked! God.
As the sovereign creator of all things, He is the one who names and gives purpose. At a foundational level, our identities as human beings find their source in Him. The Bible says in Genesis that God created humanity in his own image. We are image bearers of God. And of all the things God created there was nothing else He made and put that stamp on except you and me! This means that we are born with and retain invaluable worth.
What are the practical implications of this? Let me break this down: Your value as a person has NOTHING to do with what you can contribute to society, what color your skin is, what gender you were born, or the good or bad you’ve done. It has EVERYTHING to do with the fact that God has said that because He made you in his image you are priceless.
If you need a visual of what this means picture a mother who has just given birth. The baby is freshly born. And if you know anything about freshly delivered babies, they are not pristinely clean. Their heads may be a little warped from their journey out the womb and their faces could be bruised or swollen. Bottomline, they kind of look like little slime aliens. Developmentally, they are legally blind, can’t even hold up their own heads, and can’t regulate their own temperature. I’ve heard it said of all mammals, human babies are the most dependent on another for their survival at birth. However, mom and dad look into this baby’s face and they say this baby is perfect and beautiful! The baby has done nothing and can do nothing, and yet, the parents have placed the highest amount of value on this new life—because this is their little creation.
That’s how God feels about us. Without anything to contribute, God says you are worthy and loved. And since it’s not in God’s nature to lie or change His mind, this reality is ALWAYS TRUE. Usually in life when we use absolute language we are being hyperbolic, but because God is the source of absolute truth, what He says never changes. This is a beautiful truth for us to grab hold of and never let go! It anchors us when the winds and waves of life try and shake us.
Injury in the life of an athlete is definitely a storm. If we place our identity in something as temporal and unforgiving as sport we will be in a constant state of insecurity, doubt, fear, and feelings of worthlessness. Whether you know from experience or have just heard the phrase, you understand that “Next Man/Woman up” is real in the sports.
Many coaches, universities, and organizations are solely focused on winning—and let’s be honest, making money. Because sport is a business, athletes are often just part of the machine.
When a part breaks, they replace the part. This is not to say that real relationships are not forged and that coaches don’t care about players. But it does mean we have to understand how sports operate and fight against finding our ultimate value through the sports machine.
I know at this point you might think I’m a dream killer, but I promise you that is not my intent. I want you to win and play as long as you feel called to playing. But let’s just do a little case study and take a couple of GOAT careers like LeBron James and Tom Brady. Lebron is currently in his 21st season in the NBA and every journalist, player, coach, and analyst are amazed at his longevity and ability to continue playing at high level. Lebron James is 39 years old! That’s not old ya’ll. It means he will retire and still have about half his life left to live. Tom Brady played 20 years in the NFL, where the average career is about 3 years. When he retired, his kids were still in school.
What am I getting at, is that even if you have a generationally great career, it will still end and you won’t be (insert name your) the (insert your sport) player. But you will ALWAYS be made in God’s image and valuable to him! Being made in the image of God and having an unchangeable value is pretty legit, but what if I told you it gets better, or it could get better if you have put your faith and trust in Jesus. In Jesus, we receive an identity that is better than any NIL deal or contract you could sign!
The Bible says that in Christ we are new creations! This means that whoever we thought we were before knowing Jesus, with all our flaws and failures, has no claim on who we are now.
The Bible says in Christ we are loved! Love is something that everyone wants and needs—and the love of God is like no other because it’s both unconditional and unending.
The Bible says in Christ we are accepted! For most athletes their sport has become their place of acceptance, but when that is taken away they feel unacceptable. Jesus isn’t like your coach, trainer, GM, AD, agent, or maybe even friends/family. As God, there is nothing Jesus needs from you to accept you. You don’t add value to him. He accepts you because He wants and chooses to. It brings him pleasure.
The Bible says in Christ we are chosen! This truth is one of my favorites because as athletes the idea of being chosen has been part of your story since you started playing. There is no better feeling as a kid when it’s time to choose teams and you get chosen first—or they argue over who gets to have you on their team. There is also nothing worse as a kid than to be last and know that no one wanted you on their team. This desire to want to be wanted never leaves us, no matter how old we are. Injuries can make you feel like no one wants you or will want you. Even worst, you are not even available to be chosen.
It’s a good thing our feelings and circumstances don’t change the truth of God’s word. Praise God that He doesn’t choose like the world, which chooses those that can do something for them. God chooses by His grace (unmerited favor), meaning we don’t get chosen by our own merits or works. If that didn’t just make you feel 10 pounds lighter knowing you don’t have to perform for God for Him to choose you, I don’t know what will.
The Bible says in Christ you are not alone! Jesus promised his followers that He would never leave them nor forsake them. I know that in this season you could feel like you are by yourself, and that no one understands what you are going through. This a lie and the enemy would love for you to believe that and see you further isolate from God and others.
Instead, lean in to this truth that God is ALWAYS with you. I know you might be thinking “Well if He was so close, why do I feel like he’s so far?” Maybe He feels far because you have moved away from Him. I have yet to see a time that God distances Himself from us first. We usually distance ourselves from God because of sin, shame, guilt, anger, or doubt. The good thing about God is even when we distance ourselves from Him, He pursues us. So, if you know you have been distancing yourself from God, just know He is there waiting for you.
This list of our identity in Christ that I have mentioned was not meant to be exhaustive, but it was meant to introduce you to a concept. I pray that you seek to learn more about ALL that the Bible has to say who you are in Christ!
