Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

I graduated back in May and since then, the Lord has been teaching me a lot about patience.  I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life.  Over the summer I decided that I wanted to go to Law school.  So I began to prepare for the LSAT.  Last weekend I took the test and I think everything went well.  The months prior to taking the test is when the Lord taught me about patience. The summer was also a time for making decisions about my future.  We are all so impatient; we want things now!  And we don’t like to wait.  But through this process, the Lord has made me stronger in my faith and He has helped me to become a more patient man. 

Two years ago, I was starting my second game of the year – we were playing Kentucky.  I was so excited about getting to start for UGA and things were going well.  Then it all came to a crashing halt when I tore my ACL.  I was out for the rest of the season and would begin a long rehabilitation process.  When it first happened, I asked the Lord, why?  I didn’t understand why He would let this happen to me.  Then over time my heart began to soften toward God and I started asking the question what?  “Lord, what do you want to teach me through this injury?” 

Through the ACL injury and my recovery, I began to refocus on Christ and His will for me at UGA and beyond.  Now I have such an appreciation and thankfulness to be able to play the game I love.  When I take the field today against UT, I will be giving a thank you performance to God for all the blessings in my life:  Salvation in Christ, my family, friends, and the opportunity to be here at UGA.

Some people ask me, “How do you balance being a competitor on the football field and being a Christian?”  1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”  My purpose on the field is to glorify God, and I do it by being a hard working, intense football player.  It doesn’t mean you have to be soft.  Just look at Jesus, He was willing to go to the cross for me and I want to serve Him with all my heart and soul. 

My heart’s desire is to leave a legacy here at UGA.  Some of the younger players ask me about my faith.  I give Christian bracelets out to the guys in turn for quoting scripture verses.  I ask them to memorize a verse of scripture and then I give them a cool bracelet that reminds them of the sacrifice that Christ was willing to make for our sins!  I hope that guys will remember me for my hard work ethic and my intensity to play the game of football for Jesus Christ.  I also hope that they will always remember me as a Christian athlete not an athlete that just happens to be a Christian.  To God be the Glory!

 
Learn more about a relationship with Christ and how to live in Christ.