Every principle of success includes the admonishment to "Believe in yourself". The reason is clear. If we don't believe in our self, we won't try and if we won't try success is impossible! Every elder person's biggest regret in life is "I wish I would have risked more, but I didn't believe in myself!"

God says two things to encourage us!

1. Reject Peoples Rejection Of You!

In 1905 the university in Germany rejected Albert Einstein's graduate studies proposal calling it "irrelevant and extravagant!" Thank goodness Albert rejected their rejection of him and pushed on.

When Winston Churchill was 16 his teacher told him "you will always have an obvious lack of success!" But Winston rejected this rejection!

People will reject your athletic abilities, your mind and your heart! Reject their rejection of you and push on! They don't know you perfectly and what is inside of you!

2. God Believes In You!

Consider these as proofs of God's belief in you.

He entrusted the ruler ship of this world to us. (Not the animals or angels!) You are no accident and it was God's planning for you to be alive at this moment in history! Why? There are lives that only you can touch in your unique way through either athletics or whatever you choose!

He entrusted peoples eternal destinies to us! Ever wonder why God just doesn't write in the sky or say from heaven "I am real, believe in me!" Because He believes in us so much and gives us the responsibility to tell everyone!

Bottom line: If God was choosing sides, He would choose you! You are good and special and God has great plans and successes for you! He believes in you! So reject others rejection of you and believe what God says about you!

Conclusion: As long as you enjoy sports, God says "Go for it! Have fun! I believe in you!!" He would also say, "Take care of your teammates and let them know you believe in them too!"

Romans 8:38-39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."