When a new state law required me to have a physical examination before I could play soccer during my junior year in high school, I went to the doctor thinking I'd be in and out with no trouble at all. After monitoring my heart rate, though, the doctor became concerned. He said I had a heart murmur. And though he reluctantly signed my waiver, he urged me to see a cardiologist immediately—especially before I set foot on a soccer field again.
Although I was scared about the diagnosis, I still wanted to rely on prayer for healing like I usually do, and my mom said she'd pray with me. But that season was tough. Sometimes I wasn't able to keep up with the other girls. And often, I felt preoccupied with the other symptoms I was experiencing—symptoms that coincided with what the doctor had told me about heart murmurs.
I also struggled a lot with my place on the team. What did I have to offer? Challenges with my coach led me to pray along these lines: that, in playing, I was seeking God's praise, not the praise of any particular person. And that I was playing to glorify God. I definitely made some progress on this front, but it wasn't the happiest season.
