Joy Beyond the Game

It was in my junior year of high school when I truly discovered what it meant to live a life devoted to the Lord’s calling. I just had ACL surgery. It was a challenging time for me, the first few weeks after the surgery. I was so angry with God. I was upset that I couldn’t play basketball for a period of time that I started to question all the hard work and dedication I’d put into the game. I was at a breaking point in those first few weeks until one event changed everything for me. I was at physical therapy when I saw a lady in a wheelchair. She was never going to walk again, but she was one of the most joyful people I’ve ever met. I had a complete change of heart after that. My identity was in the wrong place. That’s when I realized that my identity should be in Christ — not in the game of basketball. And it’s a lesson that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

I’ve always had faith, but I never really built a relationship with God until this injury happened. I’m blessed to have grown up in a Christian home, and my parents did a phenomenal job of making it a priority in our lives. They poured into us daily with devotions, scripture memorization, and taking us to church. But in high school, faith was kind of built into my schedule. I went to chapel, I had Bible classes, and my family went to church on Sundays. It wasn’t that my faith wasn’t a priority — it was just that I wasn’t really focused on having a relationship with the Lord because I already had it laid out for me. That all changed after my ACL surgery.

My identity was tied to the wrong place. After I saw that lady in physical therapy, I reflected on my current perspective. If she could still have so much joy when she was never going to walk again, then I could have that same joy, too. I could have that same joy in the Lord. That injury helped me realize that things like basketball and other things in the world can be taken away in an instant, but the Lord will always be there. I didn’t realize it at the time, but tearing my ACL was a gift from God. It changed the way I approached the game of basketball and, most importantly, life. I didn’t approach it with a heart of competition anymore but a heart of gratitude. I was so thankful to be able to practice and play in games. It was a way to use my talents to honor the Lord and not in a selfish way.

One of the things that helped me shift my identity and heart posture was a class at Valor called “Sport as Worship”, taught by my then-Coach Jessika Caldwell. I was part of the very first class, and it was a game-changer for me. I learned about daily practices like invitation, meditation, gratitude, and celebration. The thing with athletes is that we have to do something every single day to get better at our craft. Once we get into a routine, it’s there. At Valor, we emphasized these daily practices, and it was a huge part of our program. We used these practices to invite the Lord into our practices and games, meditate on what He had for us, be grateful for the opportunity to play, and celebrate the beginning and end of practices and games. I took what I learned from the “Sport as Worship” class at Valor and still use it to this day. I use a focal point on my finger with the words “Child of God” to remind me of who I belong to. When I get into those moments of being over-competitive or angry on the court, I take a glance at my finger and remember that. It almost re-centers me and resets my heart posture back to where it needs to be. I play the sport I love and have the opportunity to impact my teammates, coaches, and fans in the best way possible. I learned that in class at Valor, and it’s something I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

I’m incredibly grateful that I learned these lessons in high school, as they’ve shaped not only my college journey but the foundation of my life. Playing at Oregon State was a blessing. Now, as I navigate new challenges at the University of Oklahoma, such as learning new systems, connecting with new teammates, and working with new coaches, one thing remains constant: my faith and identity in Christ. At Valor, our coaches and teachers didn’t just teach us about the game; they rooted us in the Word. They reminded us, time and time again, that we are children of God with a purpose far greater than ourselves. Isaiah 43:1, where God says, “I have called you by name; you are mine,” has become my anchor—a reminder that my identity is secure in Him. That’s why I’m so thankful for my experience at Valor.  It opened my eyes to see basketball as more than just a sport. It’s a platform for glorifying God and using my talents to honor Him. I am a child of God, and every time I step onto the court, I play to glorify Him, knowing that His purpose for my life is far greater than any game.