Picture this: the final seconds of a huge rivalry game tick down, the crowd roars, and an athlete collapses on the field—not in victory, but in defeat. 

In sports, this moment is often seen as a symbol of failure. We’re taught to admire the relentless, the invincible, and the champions who defy limits and push through pain. These qualities aren’t inherently bad, but what if we’ve misunderstood what true strength really is? What if, in our obsession with winning, we overlook the deep, transformative power of weakness? As Christians, we’re invited to see weakness not as a flaw, but as a gateway to God’s greatest work in and through us.

Our culture often equates weakness with failure, but the biblical narrative offers a countercultural view: we are actually strongest when we embrace our weakness. This can be hard and intimidating. We’re often unsure where to start or what it looks like, so we continue to wear the mask of invincibility. My hope is that by the end of this article, you will understand how embracing weakness leads to personal growth, deeper reliance on God, stronger community, and a clearer reflection of Christ in your life—all of which bring glory to God.

The Hidden Cost of Strength 

According to a National Institutes of Health (NIH) survey of collegiate athletes, 43% of those with a history of concussions admitted to hiding a concussion to stay in the game. It’s estimated that between 40-50% of collegiate athletes confess to hiding or downplaying injuries to keep competing. While we could discuss the long-term health consequences of not reporting injuries, the more pressing question is: Why are athletes hiding their injuries?

Could it be that from a young age, athletes are taught to push through pain? While perseverance is crucial for anyone aiming to compete at a high level, there’s a dangerous line that can be crossed. Athletes and coaches must recognize and respect this boundary. There’s a time to endure pain, but there’s also a time to acknowledge it and speak up.

But pushing through pain isn’t just a physical decision. It’s often driven by deeper motivations. Why do we feel the need to push through? If we’re honest, it’s often rooted in fear. Fear of being benched, fear of losing our place in the sport, fear of disappointing fans or teammates, or even fear of appearing less competitive. Fear is a powerful motivator. We strive to appear invincible, hiding the struggles and pain we’re experiencing beneath the surface.

The Biblical View of Weakness

It’s important to clarify that biblical weakness doesn’t mean failure or losing. In fact, it’s a pathway to experiencing God’s strength. In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul writes, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The context of these verses show that Paul is essentially boasting in his shortcomings. He embraced his limitations because they created space for God’s power to be revealed. For those of us involved in sports, this reshapes our understanding of weakness. 

Admitting struggles doesn’t diminish our worth or abilities. It invites God’s strength into our situations.

Jesus’ example of embracing weakness should profoundly impact how we view our own vulnerabilities. We are called to follow our Master both on and off the field, and Jesus’ path was one marked by humility and weakness. In Philippians 2, we read, “Jesus, though equal with God, took the form of a servant and humbled himself to death—even death on a cross.”

The greatest display of weakness—Jesus’ death on the cross—proved to be the most powerful demonstration of God’s work. True strength, the kind that reflects Jesus, comes from humility and surrender. While the world tells us to be invincible and hide our shortcomings, Jesus calls us to humble ourselves, embrace vulnerabilities, and allow God’s power to shine through them.

Jesus’ weakest moment paved a way for us to have a relationship with God. Without His example and sacrifice, we would be unable to participate in redeeming the broken world of sports into the beautiful culture God desires. We would also miss the chance to display God’s glory through our own weaknesses.

By understanding and embracing biblical weakness, we can become the people God calls us to be both in sports and in life.

Scenarios of Weakness in the Sport World

Let’s make this idea practical. Below are five areas in the sports world where weakness can show itself: coach, competitor, parent, teammate, and support staff. Each scenario includes a biblical theme, a verse, and why it matters. While I’ve shared distinct examples, the themes apply across all areas. My goal is to get you thinking. Your role is to contextualize these themes within your specific area of sport.

Coach: Admitting Mistakes in Strategy

Theme: Humility in Leadership
Verse: James 4:6, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Scenario: You’re a basketball coach who calls a timeout after realizing a defensive strategy isn’t working. Instead of deflecting blame, you openly tell the team, “That was on me. I misread their offense. Let’s adjust and move forward together.”
Why It Matters: By admitting mistakes, you model humility, echoing the biblical call to lead with a servant’s heart. This fosters a culture where athletes feel safe acknowledging their own weaknesses, promoting growth and unity within the team.

Competitor: Serving from the Background

Theme: Serving with Humility
Verse: Philippians 2:5-7, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
Scenario: You’re the star soccer player who gets injured mid-season and can no longer compete. Instead of withdrawing from the team emotionally, you embrace a new role—carrying water bottles, setting up equipment, and cheering from the sidelines. You become the team's biggest encourager, leading to multiple conversations with teammates about God because they notice you reacting differently than anyone else they’ve known.
Why It Matters: Embracing a behind-the-scenes role reflects Christ-like leadership, where greatness is found in service, not status. By supporting teammates on and off the field, you demonstrate that your value isn’t tied to performance but to what God says is true of you. This is a powerful witness of humility and selflessness in the world of competitive sports.

Parent: Acknowledging Emotional Struggles

Theme: Compassion and Bearing Each Other’s Burdens
Verse: Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Scenario: You’re a parent who notices your child struggling after a tough loss. Instead of brushing it off with, “You’ll get over it,” you say, “I remember how hard it was when I lost games too. It’s okay to feel disappointed. Let’s talk about it.” While the conversation may not go deep in the moment, later at home, you revisit the topic and share your past experiences, fostering greater understanding and connection.
Why It Matters: By validating your child’s emotions, you mirror God’s compassion and teach that vulnerability is a strength. This helps young athletes process failure in a healthy, faith-centered way, knowing that God (and their parent(s)) meets them in their struggles.

Teammate: Asking for Help During a Slump

Theme: Strength in Community
Verse: Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
Scenario: You’re a volleyball player struggling with your serve. You confide in a teammate, saying, “I’ve been off my game lately, and I don’t know how to fix it. Could you watch me and give some feedback?”
Why It Matters: Asking for help reflects humility and invites the strength of community. It teaches that we are not meant to face challenges alone but to support and uplift one another, both in sports and in faith.

Support Staff: Acknowledging Limitations in Knowledge

Theme: Integrity and Trusting God’s Wisdom
Verse: Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
Scenario: You’re the team’s athletic trainer and encounter an injury you’re unfamiliar with. Instead of pretending to have all the answers, you say, “I’m not entirely sure about the best course of action here, but I’ll consult with a specialist to make sure we get it right.”
Why It Matters: By acknowledging your limitations, you demonstrate integrity and reliance on greater wisdom, whether from other professionals or from God’s guidance. This fosters trust within the team and highlights the value of honesty over pride.