Learning God’s Heart From The Sidelines

This post was originally written several years ago and has been lightly edited for clarity and relevance. It reflects my thoughts and experiences from that season of life.

My oldest had a basketball tournament this weekend. He loves playing the game, and I love being there to support him. As I watched his team give everything they had on the court, I suddenly noticed my hands throbbing. I realized I had been squeezing them together so tightly that my knuckles were white, cutting off the blood supply to my fingertips.

Moments like this often remind me of how God sees me— as His child.

He doesn’t yell directions from the sidelines. He doesn’t shame missed shots or mistakes. Instead, I imagine Him sitting quietly, fully present, cheering me on. He watches me fail, succeed, and learn. I picture Him with His mighty, world-creating hands clenched with white knuckles, lovingly invested as I hustle down the court of life.

He is my biggest fan.

And that knowledge gives me confidence.