Joy in Victory

Is there anything in sport that can match the joy of winning? Those feelings of excitement, fulfillment and satisfaction are conspicuously absent in a loss. There is nothing quite like experiencing triumph over one’s opponent. And King David, the writer of Psalms 21, was extremely familiar with these emotions as well. In reading verses 1-2, who did David credit as being the source of his victories? It surely wasn’t himself. He said, “Lord, the king finds joy in Your strength.”

For the king and for us, the great joy in victories comes as a gift from God. Like David, we should rejoice in the strength we feel in sport, but not due to our own efforts. It is God who has granted us all the deep desires of our hearts; we’re greatly blessed just to be competitors in sport. We must constantly remind ourselves that the joy we feel in victory is an extension of God’s blessing, and not of our own accomplishments.

As you pray in preparation for competition, ask God to focus your heart on His strength. Compete in great freedom, knowing God’s power is your provision. And be mindful that it’s His joy that should be your source of fulfillment, not the final score.