One of the most interesting and successful sports teams in the last several years has been the United States Women’s National Soccer Team. They won their 2nd straight World Cup title in the last year. Both the American and Canadian women’s soccer teams have outshone their men’s National Teams by quite a margin in recent years.

A Key Cog

Last month, Julie Ertz, a midfielder on the U.S. Team, was named the United States Soccer’s Female Athlete of the Year for 2019. The 27-year-old won the award for the 2nd time in her career. She is considered one of the key cogs on the U.S. Team, because of both her skill and character.

Julie is married to Zac Ertz, the starting tight end on the Philadelphia Eagles football team. She and her husband are committed followers of Jesus Christ. Her faith impacts her play on the field and her life off the field. She says: “There are so many things you can’t control. I try to really be in tune with (God’s) Word and continue my growth. When I do, I am a better athlete on the field. I’ve shifted my perspective so that when I go out, I go out to glorify Him.”

Julie grew up in a Christian home but didn’t commit her life to Christ until she left for College at Santa Clara University. She found a new purpose and perspective as Jesus became a personal reality in her life. She says: “Now I’m playing soccer for a bigger purpose. I feel like I was putting a lot of my identity in my sport, but now that I have a greater perspective, I enjoy it so much more”. I think that makes a lot of sense. When the primary part of your identity is being a soccer player, your performance on the field becomes the all-important factor in how you think and feel about yourself.

When you are doing well on the field you feel great about yourself. But when you are not performing well, you are in the emotional and mental dumps. This is a difficult way to live. The Lord wants us to realize that the bedrock of our identity is being a child of God. The Lord’s love is constant, it doesn’t vary with our performance. We don’t have to go up and down like a Yo-yo in our emotional and mental life.

Sharing The Blessing

Both Julie and Zac have learned that the main parts of their identities are tied up in their relationship with their heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. It has enabled them to compete as professional athletes and to live their lives with confidence. It has also enabled them to be grounded in God’s character, and to not be arrogant about their talent and accomplishments.

Julie and Zac have started the Ertz Family Foundation. They promote educational causes in Philadelphia, Haiti and the Oakland-San Francisco area. They are showing forth in deeply practical and compassionate ways the reality of Jesus Christ in their lives. They have been greatly blessed by the Lord and, in turn, they are sharing those great blessings with others. May the Lord continue to keep them faithful and may they continue to glorify Him, both on and off the field.

QOTD: Is the main part of your identity resting in God’s grace and love as a child of God, or is it resting in your performance?