Student Athlete Identity: Growing Stronger Through Wins, Losses, and Challenges

GRIT Sunday Series: Week 4 Devotion | August 24, 2025

The first week of games and tournaments is in the books!

You faced it all, pregame jitters, the thrill of a win, the sting of a loss, long tournament days, fatigue, new gyms, and even the voices of family and fans on the sideline.

Some of you earned the privilege of being on the court, while others earned the privilege of supporting your teammates from the bench.

It might surprise you, but the disciples faced something similar. In Luke 8, when Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were exhausted, afraid, and overwhelmed. They had already spent long days “on the road,” following Him, learning from Him, and then suddenly they were hit with a challenge they didn’t feel ready for. Sound familiar?

That’s what the start of the season can feel like, exciting, but also overwhelming. Just like the disciples, you may face fear, doubt, or frustration. But here’s the key: those challenges didn’t break them, they grew them.

Every moment this week, whether exciting or difficult, is shaping your student athlete identity. And the good news is this: God uses both victories and struggles to make you stronger in faith and character.

Student Athlete Identity: Growth Mindset in Every Role

A growth mindset means seeing every situation, the win, the loss, the bench, the long travel day, as an opportunity to learn and grow.

This weekend may have tested you. Maybe you felt overlooked, tired, frustrated, or distracted. But here’s the truth: your identity isn’t defined by the scoreboard, your playing time, or your parents’ sideline commentary.

It’s defined by Christ. And He’s using these moments to develop the character inside you.

“How did I grow through my first games and tournaments this week?"

• Did I grow in patience?

• Did I grow in resilience after a loss?

• Did I grow in humility while cheering from the bench?

• Did I grow in focus when the crowd got distracting?

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  James 1:2–4

This verse reminds us that the tough moments, whether it’s losing a close match, sitting on the bench, fighting nerves, or pushing through fatigue, aren’t wasted. God is using them to strengthen your perseverance.

When you approach challenges with a growth mindset, you’re not just building skills for volleyball; you’re building maturity, resilience, and a student athlete identity that reflects Christ.

God doesn’t waste challenges. Every trial, every role you play, every hard moment is being used to grow perseverance in you. His goal isn’t just for you to be a great athlete, it’s for you to become mature, complete, and more like Him.

Growth: Growth means we don’t stop when things get hard. We lean in.

Your student athlete identity grows the most when you:

• Stay coachable even after mistakes

• Support teammates whether you’re on the court or the bench

• Choose focus when distractions try to pull you away

• See losses not as failures, but as fuel to improve

Reframe the Challenge

When the disciples were in the storm, their first reaction was panic. But when they looked to Jesus, their perspective shifted, He showed them He was bigger than the storm.

When you face something tough this week, a tough opponent, a bench role, a loud parent or spectator, pause and ask:

“What can I learn from this?”

This small shift takes frustration and turns it into growth. That’s what a growth mindset does: it sees the storm as a chance to build strength in Christ.

Ask your athlete:

“What challenge from this weekend helped you grow the most?”

Celebrate how they handled it, not just what the outcome was.

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This weekend was more than games. It was a classroom for your character.

Like the disciples in the storm, you’ll face moments of fatigue, pressure, and frustration. But your student athlete identity isn’t defined by the storm, it’s defined by how you grow through it.

With a growth mindset, every role, every game, and every obstacle becomes a step toward becoming the person God created you to be.

Remember: storms will come, wins and losses will fade, but who you’re becoming in Christ will last forever.

About the Author

Sandy Robinson is a High Performance Coach, CEO of GRIT Volleyball Club, and a passionate mentor for young athletes.

As one of the 5 founding leaders of GRIT Volleyball Club, she’s dedicated to helping students grow in confidence, character, and competitive grit, both on and off the court. When she’s not coaching, you’ll find her encouraging other women to pursue excellence in life, faith, business, and leadership.