Well done Gabby Douglas, well done!
The Olympic spirit is undoubtedly in the air. The display of athleticism, dedication, and fierce heart screams so loudly from the tv screen that it provokes our heart with overwhelming pride. Our elite athletes sacrifice much to get to the games and our country stands proudly in support. We cheer with them. Hope with them. Believe in them.
Then, when the unbelievable dream of Olympic gold happens, we rejoice with them! In the London 2012 games, young sixteen year old gymnast Gabby Douglas surprised the world with a breakout performance that earned her the gold medal in the all around gymnast competition. Throughout her interviews during the Olympic competition she spoke frequently of her faith in God and of the comfort the Bible was to her during her rigorous training with the intense pressures of competition.
Immediately following her gold medal performance, she made a statement that will forever be recognized as one of the most outspoken and humble moments of sports history,
“I give all the glory to God. It’s kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to him and the blessings fall down on me.”
As a teen this young champion has recognized that God is the source of our gifts and talents. With all the hard work she put in to get to the games (including actually leaving her parents home to train exclusively under a coach at a distance) she had every understandable right to be proud, arrogant, and to relish in her victory with an “I earned this” attitude. Instead, the first words of her mouth praised her Savior and dare I say-accomplished a sweet sense of “making Him famous!” The world could just be talking about Gabby and how simply amazing, talented, and promising she is— but instead: the newspapers, national TV and social media are buzzing about the God who she credits for blessing her with talent, the discipline to succeed, and and the sweet joy of victory!
As I watched her performance and the moments after I thought of a verse that has been most influential as I grow in my faith, grow in my unique calling for God, and grow…well…more “mature” or in other words– older:
Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Very few of us are called to be elite athletes, much less Olympic champions. Most of us will never have an achievement in our lifetime that brings the fame, honor or noteworthiness of gold medals. However, God has given us each a unique set of talents, passions, and abilities. Whether you are a student, parent, young, old, or somewhere in-between– the call on your life is the same and the concept is so beautifully freeing, “Whatever YOU do…”
There is no set formula. No credentials or benchmarks we must achieve . No forced occupations or hobbies we must pursue. No cookie cutter mold that we must fit into to bring God glory. Just simply, “Whatever YOU do….do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…”
Whether God has you sitting in an office, serving food at a restaurant, greeting customers at a store, making coffee as barista, staying home with your kids, or learning in the classroom– it can all be done for Him. No task too mundane, no job too stationary or of non-importance. As a Christian God wants to consume all of us. Every talent, ability and passion you have is uniquely crafted with a purpose for His kingdom. Thank Him for your individuality and put the effort forward to use it to bring glory to God. You have a calling that no one else on this earth can fulfill, walk in it with enthusiasm and serve God with all of your being.
Thanks for the article! I love it when I discover someone famous is a Christian by their words in an interview (i.e. Zachary Levi, look him up on IMDB). During the Olympics I heard many thank God after their performance and it made me rejoice! David Boudia, a diver, is another prime example who thanked our Sovereign God.
By the way, I’m looking for a Christian blogger who would be interested in reviewing my novel “Craving the World” and writing about it on her blog. Are you interested?