Striving For God / Guest Post by Lillian Ainsley

Being an athlete for the majority of my life, I know what it means to work hard and make commitments. But my first semester and season in a new state with new coaches and a team full of strangers was difficult. Even as an extrovert, I found myself constantly thinking about how I would fit into this team. How could I compare to a group that already seemed so connected? The other first-year students found friends on the team faster than I did, and I wanted to belong so badly.

When I arrived at Olivet Nazarene University, my coach told us to choose a “word of the year,” something to focus on not only in swimming, but also in our studies and everyday life. I chose Strive. I wanted to prove that I belonged on the team, and to do that, I had to strive. Striving at practice was easy: work hard, finish the sets, and push myself beyond the limits. But I also needed to strive in every part of being on the team, cheering, participating in team activities, and building relationships. As the season went on, whenever practice felt too hard, I would think to myself, “To be better, I must strive!”

Still, I wondered how I could strive in life and in my relationship with the team. To strive in my studies meant not procrastinating and staying focused. But striving in my relationship with Christ and with the other girls was harder. Balancing a new social life, swimming, and school was overwhelming. But I truly wanted to commit to my word of the year. To strive for Christ meant joining Bible studies even when I felt like I had no time and stepping out of my comfort zone to lead a study with the women’s team. Preparing for that study pushed me to dive into God’s Word. As I did, I realized what striving really meant: focusing fully on something greater than myself. Even though the study was about leaders in the Bible, God used it to lead me to my goal. The girls showed so much support. Through His Word, God helped me connect with the team. The more I absorbed His truth, the more I realized this was what I had been striving for all along.

As the season continued, even though I had built strong relationships, I still wanted to prove I belonged. I wasn’t as fast as the top girls, even though I was working hard. Then I injured my shoulder and was told not to use it for a few days. I had to start therapy with the trainer. I worried: How can I strive in my sport if I can’t even swim? I didn’t want the team to think I was slacking or giving up. But the opposite happened. The women on the team showed me constant kindness, checking in and encouraging me. Their support made the team feel like a true family. God used my injury as a living example of how to live like Him, and my team became the example.

To strive is to love the people around you. Even though my word was Strive, I realized God was striving to reach me and hold me secure. My team strived to love me and show me I belonged. As a freshman, hundreds of miles from home in a place where everyone was a stranger, I learned that striving means more than chasing accomplishments. Striving for God means loving Him, knowing Him, and knowing His people. Next year, I want to reflect the character of God and strive to be more like Him as I face new challenges.