Play with Heart
I was out for a run this morning thinking about high school playoffs and our local teams. I love this time of year. A solid record during the regular season is great, but it doesn't mean much once the playoffs start. You still have to show up and play.
The underdogs are my favorite. The cross-country runner who has been putting in the work all season but isn't ranked with the top runners. The volleyball team that struggled early in the season but is starting to click at the right time. The football team with a losing record that isn't ready to end its season.
I had a chance to cheer for an underdog tonight. My daughter's volleyball team was headed into round two of playoffs against the number one ranked team, and I was hoping to see the underdogs come out with a win. Unfortunately, the top-ranked team proved why they were sitting at number one. So much for my underdog story!
A few years ago, I spoke to a group of cross-country runners before sections about running with heart. I wasn't talking about being the fastest runner or having the best race. I was talking about what it takes to keep going when a race gets hard, when things don't go as planned, and when the finish line feels miles away. That same idea applies to every sport. It's not just the final score or where you fall in the rankings. It's what you bring to the competition and giving your best, regardless of how things are going.
When I think about someone who walked in as an underdog, David facing Goliath is one of the first stories that comes to my mind (1 Samuel 17). David wasn't the obvious choice to go into battle. He was the youngest of his brothers, a shepherd, and not a soldier. Goliath was a giant and the number one ranked warrior.
Even David's own brothers questioned why he had come to the battlefield. David had a different perspective. When Saul offered him his armor, David tried it on but quickly decided it wasn't going to work. He wasn't going to win by trying to be someone he wasn't. Instead, he went with what he knew: his sling and stones.
Where did David's confidence come from? When he explained to Saul why he was willing to face Goliath, he remembered how God had helped him protect his father's sheep from a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:34–37). David had seen God come through before, and he trusted Him going into this battle.
My daughter's volleyball season has come to an end for this year, but there are still plenty of local teams competing for a trip to state. I'll be watching and cheering them on, especially the underdogs.
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Make Monday Matter is my weekly Christian devotional where I share reflections on faith, running, and the small ways God shows up in everyday life.
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