Formed by the Game: 30 Days of Seeing God in the Liturgies of SportSample

Injuries

Few things bring more frustration to an athlete than injury. One moment you’re flying down the field, training in the weight room, or competing at your peak, and the next moment, everything halts. Crutches, rehab tables, or the sting of watching from the sidelines become the new reality. For coaches, an injured player changes strategies and plans. Parents watch with tears as their child’s dream feels snatched away. Even as fans, we feel the collective heartbreak when a key player goes down. Injuries remind us how fragile we really are.

In sport, the liturgy of injury can shape us toward despair, bitterness, or a desperate grasp for control. But Scripture points us toward another story. Psalm 34 reminds us that in our pain, the Lord draws near. Injuries expose our weakness, but they also become an arena where God’s presence shows itself most tenderly. He doesn’t promise instant healing or an automatic return to the game, but He does promise closeness, comfort, and a love that holds us even in the crushing moments.

For the Christian athlete, injury can be redeemed. It can become a season of deeper dependence, a reminder that our identity is not in what we can physically do but in who God says we are. For coaches and parents, injury is a chance to embody God’s compassion, reminding the athlete that they are more than their sport.

Next time you sit in a doctor’s office, wrap ice on a sore joint, or watch from the sideline instead of stepping onto the field, remember this: God is close. The brokenness of sport points us to the brokenness of the cross and the hope of resurrection that follows.

Prayer:
“Lord, when injury or disappointment comes, help me not to despair. Draw near to me in my weakness, remind me of Your presence, and teach me to trust in Your healing and hope. Amen.”