I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior when I was very young. At 8 years old, I thought salvation was very simple and straightforward, and I could not understand why everyone didn’t choose to accept Jesus’ free gift.

Laura Wilkinson

Event: Platform Diving Born: Nov. 17, 1977 Hometown: The Woodlands, Texas College: University of Texas Career Highlights: •2-time Olympian (Gold, 2000) •ESPN ESPY Nominee (2000) •U.S. Olympic Athlete of the Year (2000) •World Cup Platform Gold Medalist (2004) •World Championship Gold Medalist (2005) •3-time USA Diving Athlete of the Year (2000, 2004, 2005)

Throughout junior high, I remember soaking up every word I heard in church and loving Jesus and having an active prayer life. Things changed, however, in the middle of my freshman year of high school. I started attending a new youth group, and, after a few months, I began to hear some of the students swearing and talking about partying. It really disturbed me, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. At each youth group meeting I felt more and more uncomfortable until I finally stopped going altogether.

I still loved God, but I wasn’t attending any kind of church services anymore. Time went on, and I began talking with God less and less and doing what I wanted more and more.

During this time, I started diving, and it quickly became my main focus in life. Diving dictated where I went to college and who my friends were.

“I soon found myself in the middle of a competition on live television with thousands of people watching, and I was literally scared for my life.”

At the end of my freshman year of college, I lost one of my closest friends, Hilary, in a car accident. Just five months later my Aunt Carolyn died suddenly of heart failure. I felt like I was losing everyone I loved, and I was terrified of losing someone else. Needless to say, I couldn’t concentrate very well, and my grades started slipping. Diving was all I had left. I even remember thinking, As long as I have diving, I’ll be OK.

A few months later that one stable thing left in my life suddenly began to terrify me. I was getting disoriented in the air on my handstand dive, and I couldn’t figure out right-sideup from upside-down. When you’re diving from 33 feet up in the air, that’s not exactly a comforting feeling.

I soon found myself in the middle of a competition on live television with thousands of people watching, and I was literally scared for my life. But it wasn’t just about the dive. I realized during this meet that I had become dependent on myself, my  decisions, my wants and my goals. It had been all about me, and my world had fallen apart. As I was climbing up the ladder for that handstand dive, I remembered a Bible verse that I had loved when I was younger: “I can do everything through him, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13, NIV). Right there on the platform, in the middle of the meet, I asked God to forgive me for following my own path, and I gave my life back to Him.

I love that God used my sport to bring me back to Him because now, every time I stand on the platform in front of the world, I am humbled at what He has carried me through. And I know He will use me no matter what the outcome of the meet.

Have you become dependent on yourself only to find that you aren’t enough? You aren’t alone. None of us on our own are enough to make it through life. We weren’t designed to be. God created each of us to be limited in our abilities so that we would learn to rely on Him. Our human limitations allow Him to demonstrate His love for us by making up the difference. If you are at the end of your own abilities and want to experience the love and strength that God is offering you, take this opportunity to pray to Him. Ask Him to take the reins of your life. Makethe decision to live for Him, and He will overwhelm you with His power and love. Don’t know how to pray? Try a prayer like this: “Lord, I know that on my own I am not enough. I need You. I want to start a life with You. I know that You sacrificed Your Son, Jesus, so that this kind of relationship would be possible. I want to accept that gift of grace and forgiveness and begin living for You. Please take over my life, Lord. Where I am weak, I know that You are strong. I surrender to You now and wait expectantly to see how You will reveal Yourself to and through me. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”

*For more stories about faith and sport, visit www.sharingthevictory.com, the official magazine of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Photos courtesy of Speedo.