Overcoming Injury as an Athlete

I first heard my left ankle pop in the summer of 2014. I disregarded it because as a ballet dancer, you get used to your body popping. After a few months, I didn’t only hear a popping noise, but I felt pain. I began to search for an answer. After three and a half years of searching, four different doctors, two different medical staff, one month in a cast, two months in a boot, three x-rays, one MRI, and endless days spent dancing in pain, I finally found the answer. But, it wasn’t how I expected.

In January 2018, my doctor told me there was a nodule growing inside the deepest tendon of my foot that could erupt and cause irreputable damage. Surgery for a complete ankle reconstruction was immediately scheduled.

As athletes, we are known for our preparation and performance. We put hours into working out, eating right, practicing hard and performing even harder. We prepare to perform. But we are not prepared for an injury that puts everything on pause.

The Physical Battle

Injuries are frustrating and upsetting, and they come with many battles. First, there’s the physical battle of recovering. We can no longer be the athlete we once were. We can no longer do what we trained for, and sometimes, we lose the caliber at which we once performed. This can leave us feeling frustrated, depressed and super low.

The Spiritual Battle

The spiritual battle can be much more difficult than the physical. This is where the enemy loves for us to be.

The spiritual battle is next, and this is much more difficult than the physical. This is where the enemy loves for us to be.

“A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” -John 10:10a

Our enemy comes in at our lowest moments and plants lies in our heads amid our suffering. Lies that make us feel worthless since we cannot compete, lies that make us question God and His goodness and plan for us. Lies that seek to steal, kill and destroy our joy and trust in God. 

The enemy wants the outcome of our injury to be fear.

God wants the outcome of our injury to be faith.

The Outcome of the Battle

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” -John 16:33

God does not leave us in our injuries. He gives us His Word so that in Him, we can have ultimate peace and hope, no matter what.

He wants the outcome of any injury we go through to be trust, hope and peace. He wants us to experience Him in greater ways.

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” -Matthew 11:28

God tells us to be courageous and overcome our injuries by coming to Him, and He gives recovery, healing, rest, and abundant life.

During my year-long recovery, God was working in my heart and growing me to see things I would have never seen if I did not get injured. He was healing my ankle, but at the same time, my heart. God grew me by teaching me sometimes the darkest seasons of my life can be the brightest light that points us to God. He helped me find my true identity by showing me that ballet was not who I was, but simply what I did.

Sometimes, injuries can become an upside-down blessing, because the outcome can be a deeper, stronger and closer relationship with God.