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Word UP with Webb
Daily Devotion for Teens and Students
Word UP with Webb
Wrestling with God: Literally and Figuratively
What defines your worth? Is it your achievements, your social circle, or something deeper? This question sits at the heart of our conversation with Lena Johannson, a remarkable young athlete whose journey challenges conventional wisdom about success.
With five state wrestling championships to her name and heading to Alabama A&M on a soccer scholarship, Lena could easily let her athletic prowess define her. Instead, she offers listeners a raw, unfiltered look behind the medals and trophies. Despite never losing a high school wrestling match against female competitors in Alabama, Lena confesses wrestling isn't even her favorite sport. She candidly discusses how cutting weight affected her body image and mental health, revealing the constant battle to remember her true worth comes from Christ, not competition results.
The conversation takes unexpected turns as Lena shares her transition from homeschooling to public school, where social rejection became another crucible for her faith. "When you are trying, you're desperate for anything," she reflects, describing how her breakthrough came paradoxically when she stopped striving for acceptance. This counter-intuitive wisdom permeates her story, culminating in the revelation that her Princeton-educated mother chose to be a stay-at-home mom rather than pursue prestigious career opportunities—a decision that modeled putting divine calling above societal expectations.
Perhaps most striking is Lena's perspective on her upcoming college experience. Rather than viewing it merely as an athletic or academic opportunity, she sees Alabama A&M as her mission field: "We think the mission field is all the way in a foreign country, but really it's in our families, it's on our teams." Her commitment to living authentically for Christ rather than performing religion offers a refreshing alternative to superficial spirituality.
Whether you're a student athlete, parent, coach, or someone simply trying to navigate life's pressures without losing your identity, Lena's parting wisdom resonates: "Your worth is not defined by anything other than what Christ has revealed." Listen now and discover what it truly means to find your value beyond your victories.
Good morning guys. Welcome to Word Up. On this Saturday morning I am here with Weaver soccer track wrestling star Lena Johansson, and she also is headed to Alabama A&M on a soccer scholarship. And, most importantly, what really led me to inviting her here today was, a couple of weeks ago, attended a FCA banquet where she received an award. What was that award? You received Chia Valley Athlete of the Year. Athlete of the Year for Female Athlete of the year Chiha Valley, uh, for FCA, and truly a follower of Christ.
Speaker 1:Amongst the busy schedule and all the things that she has going on, she keeps Christ first, and so, lena, we are so glad to have you with us today. Um, normally I have a set of questions that I'm going to ask, but as you and I have been sitting here and just talking through your story, your life, I really just feel like we're not going to put a time limit on it, we're not going to put a schedule on it and we're just going to let our students hear some of the struggles that you faced, but also where God has led you through that. So just tell us a little bit about your senior year and what that's been like as you're preparing for college.
Speaker 2:So it's been a little difficult because you know you're still trying to balance the grades to, you know, graduate in good placement, but also, like, athletically, you're trying to win that fifth state title, because it would be not very exciting if you go all four years and you can't pull it together fifth year and then wrestling is big. But for soccer, like it's been really hard for me because I came in mid-movie through the summer and I was like I don't want to play college sports, like I'm done with it, I'm burnt out. And then one of my friends we played at a club team together. She committed to Alabama A&M and I saw it on Instagram and I was like, oh my goodness, like if she can play there, like I can play there. And it was already a school I was interested in and I was like, well, it's not so much that I want to play college sports, I just want to go play college sports at a school I want to go to. So I was like, well, let me see what I can do. So I see what I can do.
Speaker 2:So I started emailing the coaches, sending film, and then I got that notification on field level, the album, and followed you and I was like, okay, this is good, this is good. And then I went to one of their ID cams this fall and the coach was like we already gave out our scholarship money, but we have three open goalkeeper spots. And he literally said this almost word for word you look like you started playing goalkeeper this year, but you're more athletic than every single girl in our conference, so I think I can do something with it. And I was like, okay, thank you, because you know, it's just like. It's like one of those double-sided comments. You're just like, okay, well, thanks. And I was like, okay, well, that's where I want to be. So, and like, because of my GPA and ACT, I will get full tuition there. So it was not like I'm losing money there.
Speaker 2:And then the FACS scholarship ended up giving me a $5,000 scholarship, mostly because I came in there. I was like, hey, I want to stay at Austin. They're like, hey, we have a scholarship for you. And so it ended up working out beautifully. And it was not where I wanted to go to school originally, I didn't even.
Speaker 2:It was a really difficult decision, a lot of prayer, but I'm so glad I made that decision because it didn't work out, because the coach. I went on there for my official visit and took pictures and everything like that, and he said, hey, I want you to room with this girl, and it ended up being the girl that I saw that I had played on a previous team with. So it just really was a God thing that it all worked out in coordination, because it it felt right, because it like everything pulled together. There's a lot of open doors that I didn't think would be open, and it happened during your senior year, because you go in your senior year and you have these expectations of what's going to happen. I want to get into auburn, I want to major in this, and then god just comes in. It was like no, this is where you need to be in it, alabama, and the reason why I didn't want to go there originally is it's not one of those campuses that's like oh, there's.
Speaker 2:Christ everywhere. Like I see all the videos and stuff on my YouTube and Instagram and I'm like whoa, but it's just like that. We think the mission field is all the way in a foreign country, but really it's in our families, it's like on our teams and it's just like. It's not even by the word you say, but it's how you live. Like why is my roommate different than me? Like why does she have this joy? Why does she have this energy? Why does she have this passion? That's different than me.
Speaker 2:And it's like planting seeds even though you might not ever see the fruit. Like if I live my life for all four years glorifying God and not and the girl notices once and later down the road, she's like, oh, like I had this roommate back in college. Like then it's all worth it. Like that decision to go to Alabama A&M was worth it. So it's it was it ended up working out? It's out of my comfort zone, absolutely, but I can play the sport that I love so much and major in something I'm excited about and not have to go into a thousand dollars of student debt. So it works out.
Speaker 1:That's awesome and you know, I'm really encouraged by the fact that you see that as a mission field, because you're right, you know God had a purpose, he had a plan for lining those things up. It's not coincidence. A lot of times we get caught up in thinking that things just happen by chance. No, god has a plan and whenever we can keep our mind focused on what God's plan is, seeing where he's at work, then we can join him. And you're already going with that mindset of God ordained this, god put these things in motion and now I've got a job to do. When I get there and that coach thinks that your job is to stop balls from going into the goal, you goal and you have that competitive nature, but you're also seeing the piece of what your job is for Christ, and so that's really exciting.
Speaker 1:Now, I'm not going to lie to you. I didn't have a clue that you played soccer, but now that you're talking about it, I do remember hearing that you were going to Alabama A&M on the soccer scholarship. But initially in my thoughts I think of Lena as the wrestler right. I've watched you come up all the way through from, I think even probably your last year as a youth wrestler and watching you progress all the way up and just watching you destroy the guys and then move on into girls and become a four-time state champion there working on the fifth, and super exciting to watch. But as we sat down talking, you explained to me that's not even your favorite sport and it's really a struggle. So just talk about a little bit of what the struggle is with wrestling and and some of the reasons that I guess that soccer is your favorite so this sounds so kind of bad.
Speaker 2:But the reason why wrestling's not my favorite is it's hard, like it really. Soccer it's one of those. It's more of a mind game, especially as a goalkeeper. It's like predicting where the ball is going to happen. Like looking like you have a you can view the whole field all at once, and so like knowing where the ball is going to happen. Like looking like you have a you can view the whole field all at once, and so like knowing where the ball is going to happen next. But in wrestling it's something that demands all of you, all at the same time. Like you can win and lose a match based off how your hand, your finger placement, and it's like so many key details and you have to be so aware of all those things.
Speaker 2:And for me, the hardest thing was like cutting weight and then like struggling with, like the body image of like. If it's like almost as if your worth depends on, like, your weight, you're like, oh, if I'm not, for me it was like I wrestled 140 and if I'm not 140.0, I can't wrestle state tournament, and like it's just like that. Like I've seen so many girls and guys dream shattered, shattered because they were 0.1 away. Like my seventh grade year of the Boys' Day tournament, I weighed on to the ounce Like you know, like you can't breathe wrong man. It's just like that's so much pressure and like change your body image. It's like, well, if my body was different, like how would this be? And so I think for me that was honestly one of the hardest things I struggled with with. And it's just like more than like, more than like the wrestling, like it's everything around it. It's like mentally, every single practice. I think I thought about quitting every single practice like I distinctly remember there's times I would be beating girls very badly, like they didn't want to go go all practice and I was crying because I was like I don't want to be here anymore. Like because it's just like it was so it's so draining.
Speaker 2:And it's just like coach former is like one of the best coaches and it's just like one thing about him is he's a really humble person and um, so we came in the year and I think we as girls team won every single duel that was in state. I want to say like I don't call me on this, but like we, we basically dominated the state tournament like it was. You could have added like I think was, you could have added the second, third and fourth place teams together and we still would have beat them like all of their points. Like it was like a dominant run, like every single one of our girls placed at state and only three out of the ten didn't win state and so it was just like a dominant run, like the whole tournament could have wrestled against. We still won, and he always is.
Speaker 2:Like you got to be humble about it, you got to stay humble about it, and I remember one time we lost to Alexandria by maybe a point or two at like the some Oxford tournament and coach former, the boys had lost really bad to Tallahassee because they dropped the classification and so he put a really big poster in the wrestling room of the exact details, scoring details, for every single match. They lost to talisie on monday and we're like, oh, that's funny. Like imagine losing 63 to 3 and then the next day we come back and alexandra scores in there and every single day my favorite quote from coach form would always be like you think you've arrived and it's just like really funny to me, because it's just like. Wrestling is one of those sports where it's like every single thing matters and like it changes you as a person in a lot of ways, because you you have to become more conscious of your thoughts and your actions, your feelings, like truly everything you eat matters, everything you think, how much water you intake, how much sleep you get, like your how much you bathe, like skin disease, and to be able to say to me like it demands so much of you. And there's so many times where like I've just been like I can't do this anymore, like this is hard and like when you get good at a sport, everyone's like well, you just win. Like I never lost. I've never lost an alabama high school match to a girl, not one time. And um, the only time I seen her I don't think I pinned was, uh, the second ranked girl from tennessee.
Speaker 2:We went to georgia and wrestled them and I only beat her by like six or seven points and um, so it's just like you have this pressure that like you're gonna go out there and win and just like is my worth defined by like, like, will everyone like? Because sometimes you're like, do people like me because I'm good at this? Do people like me because I make good grades, you know? And so it's like all those like questions of like what is my worth based on? Because it's just like when people think of Lena, what do they think of? Probably wrestling, probably soccer, probably, oh, like, if I need help with the English paper, like, call Lena. And so it's like it becomes like, oh, my worth this. But it's just like having to remember and like I remember, like warming up for my state tournament, because of how they did it, like the call outs.
Speaker 2:I was like pacing on the mat at the Von Braun Center for like probably five, ten minutes and I was sitting there and I always go through like the same four wrestling principles every single match. I'm thankful to God for the opportunity to wrestle. I'm aggressive and relentless. I have no fear of losing or making mistakes. That was the hardest for me and I never quit. And I was going over that over again and I was just like reminding myself over and again like my worth is not defined by this. My worth is defined by christ. Over and over and again I went to my coach and said I'm so nervous. And he's like. So he said do you not realize like the girl that you're about to wrestle is even more nervous? You know, know. And so it's just like I would get told, like do you know who you are? And it's like you know who you are in Christ, more so, like you know, like this is not the end of the world.
Speaker 1:I think what you're talking about there which let me correct one mistake I said earlier four times, but you've already won the fifth now as we're sitting here, so five times state champion. But as you were talking through that, I mean, that's a lot like our walk with Christ. It is hard, you know. We accept Christ. He went and died on the cross. For us that is a free gift. But as we move forward, I tell our students all the time it's going to cost you something, it's a hard walk to walk and Satan doesn't like it. He's trying to attack you. And, as you were sitting there talking about, everything matters what you eat, the way you bathe, all these things matter. Well, it's the same way in our walk with Christ. You know, prayer matters, daily Bible reading matters, the way that we carry ourselves and the choices that we make in temptation, seeing the way out when God provides it. All of those things matter. And, just like you said, oftentimes when it gets hard we want to give up.
Speaker 1:This past Wednesday night, we referenced the Israelites in Exodus when they reached the Red Sea and the Egyptian army is closing in on them and they cry out and they yell at Moses. You know why did you lead us out here to die? We could have stayed in Egypt and been doing all the things that we were doing, which was a miserable life for them, but at that moment it was so hard to keep walking with Christ that they just decided, hey, I'd rather go back to what I know, I'd rather go back to the normal. And so you know, I think what you're talking about in your time with wrestling is very similar to that. You know, you could have easily went back to who you were before. You could have went back to the days before you were a wrestler or you know, just went back to being a normal student like everybody else, and it would have been easier in the moment. But you would have missed out on so many blessings and so many.
Speaker 1:You know. Hey, do I see you as an amazing wrestler? Absolutely. Do I see you as an amazing speaker? Absolutely. But the reason that I've asked you to come here is because I know where you stand with Christ, and so your worth is in Christ. But God has given you these talents to help you get the platform that he wants you to have to share with people the story that you're telling right now. And so I guess how do you see, looking at what we're talking about, has there ever been a time in your walk with Christ that you feel like you hit that brick wall, just like in wrestling, where you say, hey, I really just want to quit.
Speaker 2:I'd rather just be a normal person who can live in their sin and do what they want to do and not have to face these challenges of being a Christ follower so for me, because of wrestling, it opens like a lot of doors into things that at a 12 year oldyear-old or 13-year-old girl like that, you should not hear like, because you know, when you become one of the boys on the team, they just openly talk about whatever. And so, as a girl like that opened up a lot of like, lust and like, not just because of everything that was happening around me, it was just like that was the common, that was the common thread is you know, this is what guys do, so like, isn't this normal? And um. So because of that, uh, like, yes, wrestling came with a lot of blessings, but yes, it came with stuff like that and um. So that's one of those things that's like hard because it's like um easily, like if you're addicted to like nicotine, then it's like kind of easy, like it's easier, it's like it's so obvious. But you know, kind of like what you were saying earlier about like how wrestling demands all of you and like everything matters it. Like because of that and your walk with Christ, it's just it's like knowing that, like your thoughts matter, your words matter more so than your actions, because those what's in your heart is going to be the fruit that you produce and so like it's one of those things. It's like, uh, you're, it's a sanctification process. You don't instantly become like christ and it's like every single day you have to wake up and decide that I'm gonna walk with christ today and I'm gonna rely on his strength, not mine, I'm not gonna whiten up on my way through this.
Speaker 2:And uh, I was talking to my pastor the other day and he was like, sometimes the hardest thing for me is like, if I see, oh, I'm struggling with this, my mindset, because you know, like I'm an achiever, I'm like, well, they like it's almost like a challenge. Like, oh, you think I can't do that, you think I'm not strong enough to like you can just like, oh, I'm just gonna like, like, try hard, like that's not, you just can't hold on to it. You know you just can't hold on to the like you can hold on to the leg for 30 seconds, but like you know you just can't, you can't hold on for the rest of your life. And so he's like you're gonna try really, really hard and you're gonna do good for a couple weeks and then, when you fail, you're gonna be like I'm worthless, I can't do this, this is pointless. And so I think so often like, especially when there's nothing to do, or like you're bored, like you can struggle with those thoughts a lot more and like struggle through those things.
Speaker 2:But it's about understanding that like, instead of looking at your sin and like, oh, like I just need to try harder or I'm not good enough, it's like looking at God and what God's done and understanding that like you should, you shouldn't go on just like sinning because like, oh, god's grace covered it, like doesn't matter, but it's like because god's grace like covered that, like you aren't controlled by that, like you died to sin when christ died to it and you'll be raised to life with christ, and it's like because of that, your heart should over. Like when you're filling your mind through music especially I think that's the biggest thing for me is like when you're filling your heart with God's words and like gospel truths and reminding yourself of the gospel. It changes your thoughts, what changes your words, what changed your actions. And it's like one of the things in wrestling. It's like my coach always would say control what you can control. And then which is really funny, because my soccer coach in turn would be like control what you can control what? Can you control? Your attitude and your effort? So what can you control your spiritual life, what you think about, what actions you do?
Speaker 2:Because it's like so often I think as christians we're trying to get like, oh, let me stop doing the wrong actions, but we don't realize that the actions aren't what. Where it starts, it starts with our mind. It's like are we entertaining those thoughts? It's like, well, like, especially one of the things like if you're struggling with like jealousy or gossip, like it's like let's, it's not like a trident game of like how close can I get to the thing with?
Speaker 2:Like actually sinning, like in the bible, like it talks about, like if you even think of a woman less away, like you've already sinned, you've already committed adultery, and so it's just like knowing that, like it's that small, like you can't achieve it, like you really can't, you can't. But it's about looking to Christ and being like Christ. I failed, and not like what my pastor was saying. Actually, my old year pastor was saying he's like if you're to keep looking back at your sin, you're like I can't believe I did that. I can't believe that you're going to do it again. You're going to do it again because you're just like well, I'm a failure, I might as well just keep failing. But it's like, instead of looking at your sin, looking at Christ.
Speaker 1:And so one of the quotes that I've heard that goes right along with what you're saying is we have to control our thoughts. Our thoughts create an action. Our action creates a habit. Our habit is a character and our character becomes our life. It all starts with a thought. Your life starts with a thought, and when I first gave my life to Christ, I was 28 years old, and one of the first things that God put on my heart was change the music I was listening to. I went from listening to secular music to listening to gospel centered, you know, christian music all the time, and it really did change my day. It gave me hope, it gave me peace, it gave me power to go throughout the day, and so in no means am I saying that, hey, if you listen to secular music, you're going to hell, but it definitely changes your day in the way that you're thinking and what's in your mind.
Speaker 2:And like, I think for me a lot of the ways that I think wrestling is detrimental in. That is, if you go to any wrestling club or really any wrestling room, the music is outlandish because it's controlled by probably 23 year old guys that have no idea, and it's a room full of guys, you know, and so it's like that's the type of music that they want to listen to, so that's what you listen to. So, especially when you're training 8, 10, 12 hours a week and you're listening to the same like I think in my wrestling club they had the same three playlists like it's actually terrible and uh, you listen to the same songs over and over again. So like you'll just be going about your day and those lyrics are what's going to pop it in your brain and like when certain words can trigger, like certain lyrics, like you know, even like back to your childhood, um, so it's just like knowing that music does really impact you a lot and um, one of the best things that I found helpful is like, instead of being like I'm just not gonna listen to rap altogether, it's like let me listen to Christian rap, you know, because it's like it, it, it is like the best way to explain.
Speaker 2:It is like, if you're like addicted to coke, it's like I know a lot of people are addicted to coke like I get that, like I understand that, but it's like, instead of just being like, okay, I'm just gonna drink water, like transitioning, I'm just gonna drink sparkling water. I'm just gonna drink, like you know, like changing it, like because, um, that's like probably been the most helpful thing, because that like music really does, and it's designed that way, like god designed it as a beautiful, glorifying thing to him, and like satan always says he takes things that are beautiful, he insects, like he takes things that are beautiful and he's like I'm gonna destroy it and that's what he does. Like he takes things and it makes the water so muddy because it's just like music's just music, like I'm not even listening to it, but it's almost worse when you're like subconsciously listening to it, and so it's like satan destroys everything. So it's like you have to be so conscious of music and I think that's one of the big things that's going to make it or break it.
Speaker 1:That's awesome. Yes, you're so right Now. One other thing that I want our listeners to hear just talk a little bit about your background. So I didn't realize until we were talking earlier that you were actually homeschooled until the ninth grade, I think. Seventh and eighth grade you participated in the Tim Tebow rule, where you were homeschooled but still competed in athletics, and then in the ninth grade you decided to transition into the public school and so kind of just talk about that transition and you know some of the struggles and some of the reasons you wanted to do that.
Speaker 2:So the best way. One of my guy you wanted to do that, so, um, the best way. One of my guy friends said this to me but he said boys are dumb and girls are mean and like that's the best way to put middle school girls, like it's just you as a middle school girl. It's like if you push someone to the outside, you then become the inside and like that's the mindset. It's very clicky and if you're not in the clique then you feel lonely and you'll do anything to be in the clique. And going into ninth grade, the only people I knew were guys on the wrestling team, because the soccer team I was only seventh grader, I was only seventh or eighth grader, and so I was also on a team with like juniors and seniors, which wasn't good either. But besides the point and so there, but besides the point and um.
Speaker 2:so when I go to ninth grade, the only girls I knew were the girls I played volleyball with in seventh and eighth grade and um, so let's just say they were the in girls, they were the in girls, but I never really fit in with them. Even during the volleyball team, I was always the girl on the bench, I was always the girl that, like, was never in. The group said I didn't. They've been together since kindergarten. That's the one thing about like small towns. They've all been together since kindergarten. And so then I come in and, um, I come into class and I'm like okay, like I'm, my goal is to beat you athletically, my goal is to beat you academically. And people don't take too kindly to that. Like, that's not really like. Oh, we really like this girl. And um, so I really, really, really struggled with, uh, trying to fit in and I didn't understand. I was like why am I not good enough to fit in? Like, what?
Speaker 1:what's wrong with me?
Speaker 2:and it's more so, like when you're trying and you're striving to fit in, it's like maybe the answer is, like you know, like in a Christian walk it's so often very lonely, but it's like knowing that this is not your forever home, this is just a stop on the road.
Speaker 2:And so, um, just like it was really difficult for me, like I remember one of the girls who I'm actually now really good friends with, um, she was kind of getting pushed to the outside of the group and so because of it she was like, well, let me just like push lena out really hard because I'm like I'm, I'm better than than Lena, so like she's really on the outside and um, so I, um I got tired of it one day and, um, I made a scene in the lunchroom not my best moment, but you know, the teachers were like she's going through it, and so actually the other girl got in trouble, even though I was the one that kind of caused the scene. And, um, we were, we weren't allowed to go on the same lunch wave anymore. It was like really bad. And so it ended up being okay with me because I would just go to the library and study over lunch. Because it was so bad, you know, because it's just like I didn't want to face it.
Speaker 2:And that's actually when I became really into like FCCLA and FACS, because, like my fax class, my fax teacher was like the one time in my day where like I was away from these girls because you know, it's like ninth through twelfth grade instead of just like freshmen and, um, like there was, like some of my friends that were like in older grades in that class and she was also like. She was like hey, there's this club do you want to be in it?
Speaker 2:and I was like, yeah, I want to run for president and she was like all right now, like no, no, no, we can't do that. Um, but she was always like I believe in you and like later down the road I saw I went to the state conference and I saw these like state officers and I, she's like you want to do that. I was like yes, absolutely. And she always believed in me and so it was just like that breath of fresh air in the day and it's just like knowing that, like that's my favorite home and it did get better. Like, in fact, get better when I stopped trying.
Speaker 2:Honestly, like I think they always say this about guys, but like when you stop trying, when you stop looking, it usually comes to you and like because it's just like when you are trying, you're desperate for anything, you're desperate for any friendship, you're desperate for any relationship, desperate for any relationship and you're not waiting on God's timing because, like so often in my life, I was heartbroken over like the situation, this guy, this friendship, but ended up being like I look back and I'm like wow, like God really was protecting me from that, like I honestly wish he would have like brought me out of that sooner at the time, like I hated it, I cried over it, you know, and so it's just like I didn't know best, and so it's just like I didn't know best and I don't know best and I don't know best about college.
Speaker 2:I don't know best what church to go to in college, you know. So it's like about trusting Christ and, like my wrestling coach is always like, trust the processor and the outcomes, like do the next right thing and like, if that?
Speaker 2:means like that's often how I balance a busy schedule. It's just like if I'm studying for a class, I can't worry about my game tomorrow, you know, because it's like you're not being productive. You have to focus on the task at hand and being excellent at it and mastering it, and then, when you leave, leave that in an hour and then focus on practice. You know so, just like about knowing that this is not your forever home, and it does get better and it's either those doors are opened or you're being protected from something and you don't even realize it, because we don't know it's good, we just like.
Speaker 2:it's like, um, it's like about like God being a father, and it's like so often we're just like, hey, dad, I want out candy, I want McDonald's today, and it's just like, no, you can't have McDonald's.
Speaker 2:you're like, well, he hates me, like he just doesn't want me to be happy, but like in turn, he doesn't see like the medical my dad's a doctor and he's always like you know what's in that, like the chemicals and the animal, I'm like oh well, you know, I'm still going to eat it, but it's just like you know he has your best interest in mind.
Speaker 1:And one thing that I just picked up on there is the importance of your facts teacher and what she meant in your life. And now I think that's what you're going to school for, correct, yes, sir. And so you know, I think about those challenges and nobody wants to go through that. You know the pain and the suffering that you felt and the mental anguish and just trying to fit in and trying to make those things happen. But again, just like you, going to Alabama, a&m, god put those pieces together for a reason and had you stayed a homeschool student, had you gotten to Weaver and said this is too much, I can't get along with these middle school girls. Hey, mom, dad, I'm ready to go back to homeschool, I can play the sport. Let me go back home, let me do it the way I was doing it.
Speaker 1:You would have missed out on the opportunity for her, your facts teacher, to be able to invest in your life, for you to see that that's what you want to do one day. You would have changed the whole trajectory of your life. And what you don't know yet is, whenever you take that first job, there will be a student, just like you, that you're going to get to invest in that, will come to know Christ. Because you're in that classroom, that maybe that student doesn't have the mental toughness that you did, that they get to the place that, hey, I can't just go back to being a homeschool student, but I just want to quit life altogether. And because they're in your class, because you didn't go back to the norm, norm because you didn't abandon what God had for you, that you're gonna get to reach that student. I mean there's so many things coming that that God has lined up that you just don't even know and it's like the way I think about it.
Speaker 2:It's just like, whenever God gives you talents like you always hear the parable about the talents it's just like well, why did God give that guy five talents and me only two? And it's like, why are you worried about that guy's talents when you aren't using yours and like for me so often, like if you know anything about me?
Speaker 2:I am terrible at singing I cannot play an instrument, like it's really, really bad, and so I've always been like I can't even serve the church, like I'm, like I'm I'm not musically inclined, like I can't get up there and sing. You don't want to listen to me sing, I probably distract your service and it's just like.
Speaker 2:but that's just not where God has like talent, like give me my gifts my talents and it's just like I look at my life, and one time in my church we were talking about like what is God? How has God gifted you to serve the church?
Speaker 1:and it's just like I looked at my life and it's like what is something I'm passionate about.
Speaker 2:Sports and working with kids like those are the two things that, like I just love, like I like so often like a lot of the stuff I do volunteer, like with FCA or like working in children ministry. It's because I love it, like being honest, like it's just because I just really love it and just because, like so often, I see myself in that a lot, like I see myself as being the girl in like the group who can't fit in, like the girl like his um last summer um I was at FCA wrestling camp, which is actually where I
Speaker 2:gave my life to Christ a bunch of years ago, but I was at FCA wrestling camp and I ended up coming back to the huddle leader. There's a lot of confusion because they thought, because I was the girl who was over the huddle leader, she was, uh, my huddle leader when I gave my after class. So she thought I was in college. And I was like so I show up and they're like you're not who we thought you were, basically. And I was like okay, so I came down here a day early, so it gets huddle leader training. And you're telling me you don't want me. And he's like well, since you came all this way, like we can make you a junior huddle leader. And I was like it's okay, like you know, I'm fine with it and I mean I get a single room, so you know there is benefits to it and um.
Speaker 2:So I ended up going in there and the girl I was huddle leader with she ended up was it kind of like related or something to a bunch of girls in groups, so she kind of struggled with like incorporating all the girls together and so often like she would just be like hey, lena, can you leave this bubble? So like can you basically do all the huddle leader things, uh, and so I was able to like, then like lead all those and it was fill my heart so much.
Speaker 2:But it was just like because I could see like talking to the girls because, like I think it's late at night, all the secrets get told, all the things come out and it's just like going like because we would like all hang out together in like the pod center or whatever and like one night they're just like all opening to me up about so much hard stuff in their lives and I was just like able to be like yes, like I understand what you're talking about. Like because you connect with them on a sports level and so then you can connect with them on a spiritual level and like the same thing working with kids. It's just like.
Speaker 2:You know, I don't mind changing a few poopy diapers like it's not the end of the world, you know, and so it's just like I know that God's gifts to me in those two areas and so, being a teacher, I am going to make very little money and people make sure people remind me very often, but it's just like it's not really about like coaching supplements or like anything like that. It's like this is not a forever home and the way I think about it is if Christ was to come next year, am I living on mission? Did I answer the call? And if Christ was to come next year, am I living?
Speaker 2:on mission, did I answer the call? And if I was to, for example, like it's not, like I'm not smart enough to like, oh, like, let me go be a doctor. It's just like if God's gifted you with something, then you are being disobedient and unfaithful by not answering that call and like, maybe that call is to go to Alaska and me a missionary, and that's uncomfortable. But it's also like uncomfortable, you know, not being able to go on the vacation every summer, you know. And so it's like, what are you having to sacrifice to answer that call? Like to live on mission, and so, like it's just like I know, like kind of like, how you were getting onto, like it's like using your talents and like, yes, god's giving me athletic, because, like I know that because the track, like I show up and I go to practice like once a month, and they're like, hey, like do you want to be the red light team? Hey, like you qualify for state in three events. And it's just like, do I know like your girls?
Speaker 2:like I almost feel bad sometimes because there's like girls on the team that have put more time in and they're there every single day working and I just come in and I and I'm like, okay, like I'm taking your spot, oh, I'm bashing on you, oh, sorry, you can't go sectionals, you know, and it's like one of those things where it's like, yeah, it's not unfair, like when the girl was complaining about it because I took her spot on the relay team and she was not happy about that and it almost felt bad because for them to be like we can only run 52s when Lena's on the team, then, like you know, like I feel almost, and it's like God's given me the athletic talent that I can go in and I can do that, but I can go to a college and not have had the training that that all the girls, like all the girls are going to be way technically better than me.
Speaker 2:Like I'm very aware of that, but it's just like knowing that, like God has given me gifts athletically and like using that as a platform for the gospel, like through FCA especially, or like um, through leading, like huddles at our school, or even, like you know, working with kids and like youth, like in children's ministry, or like even being able to minister with girls my own age and, um, I think going to a public school is actually really a blessing in that because, like you, there are so many girls that are hurting in my school, like guys too.
Speaker 2:Because, like, in fact, one day we did a thing, we were talking about different types of family. Like you have two parents, you have one parent where you're not like going through that and I went into my class of maybe 15 20 people and I was one of three people who had both their parents and it's just like you at a private school yes, that's true, but not to the same school. Like I have a girl in my class who she leaves school and she goes, works at Zaxby's, basically as many hours as she's legally allowed to, because if she doesn't, there's no food on the table to buy, you know. And it's like there are so many girls that are hurting and, like I, have the ability because of, like my athletic platform or because of sports. Like you know, lena's like doing the morning announcements, like Lena knows a thing or two about that, lena knows about that, and it's like because of that, like when people respect you for one thing, like.
Speaker 2:If you look at, like social media, like why do we care what outfits they think are cute, why do we care what matters to them? And like it's because they're famous, it's because they're good at football. Like we think that they know what chips are best because they play football. Like, if you think about it, it's kind of stupid, almost Like, and so it's just like. Honestly it's like, but like isn't that a blessing? And it's like my mom always talks about. Like are you using your influence for good? And it's like I can sit there and be like oh, it's not that bad. Like you can do that. And like as long as you don't get pregnant, there's no biggie. But it's like. Or you can be like, your worth is not defined by that.
Speaker 2:Like you have a purpose and a plan that is not, that's not what God's used that for, you know, and it's like because of that talent, I'm then able to use that and like no, I will never be on stage singing like, ever like. But that's not where God has called me to be. You know, god's called me to be on the playing field or in the classroom being like hey, do you not? Know, that you're worth the time of Christ, and not this, and not who in the class likes you, what group you're in.
Speaker 1:We're all equipped differently, very differently. We all have different talents, but we are called to use those talents. I was actually listening to a sermon this morning where the pastor was talking about quit comparing yourself to others and just follow me. Just follow Christ With what he's gifted you with. You don't have to be like anybody else, just follow Christ. I heard you talk about yeah, you could be a doctor. I have no idea what the answer is coming to this question, but with your dad being a doctor, I have no idea what the answer is coming to this question, but with your dad being a doctor, you know, have there been those pressures in the home that, hey, you need to go and you need to follow my path? You know what does that look like in your home.
Speaker 2:So this is actually really wild, and my mom does not like people to know because she's probably one of the most humble people I know, but most people don't know. My mom went to Princeton and she's a stay-at-home mom. Wow, like my mom was a professor and now she's a stay-at-home mom, and so it's like you think about it and it's just like what and the way she always answers people, because I think like sometimes, like you have to do like the interviews, for like, if you want to get into like Ivy League schools, you have to interview with certain people, have to interview with certain people and so like I think at one point, like if you wanted to interview in like a big county area, you had to talk to my mom like you to go through them with you and like get back to.
Speaker 2:Princeton, and so it's just like so often it's like I know people like whenever they find out, like, why are you not going to Ivy League school? Like, why can't you? Like you know what I'm saying. Like and it's like because my mom valued something different, because my mom was like, being able to have a bigger house, a nicer car, like all these things does not matter as much as influencing me for christ. Being able to read the scriptures with you every single morning. Being like that does not matter to me as much as being a good wife and being able to run our home well. Like and I think because of who she is as a person, she's been still to me that like, yes, having a career matters.
Speaker 2:Like, yes, you need it If you're intelligent and you're smart, use those gifts for God, like if you have a STEM brain. By all means, make the best roads ever.
Speaker 2:But it's like if God has gifted you in a certain way, and I think, especially as women, we feel like I think biblical womanhood is so complicated in modern day because it's just like you want to be like oh, like I'm like it because I work at home, like does that mean I'm less than? But it's like no, like God gave men and women different roles and that is so beautiful and um, so my parents not once have been like I wish you were a doctor and even like that.
Speaker 2:Like my dad has always been the type of person that's like do you want to wrestle? Okay, I'm signing up for wrestling camp this weekend, like what do you want to do? And like I will help you be the best dad. And they're like that about facts. They're like well, if you want to go to facts, you're at the schools. Like he researched all the colleges in the United States that have facts and then he made a list of the Christian college you know, like and. And so it's like why would you?
Speaker 1:want your daughter to like go into something.
Speaker 2:You know she's not gonna make a lot of money, but it's like because if God's given her gifting and calling, she needs to follow it, even if that's uncomfortable. And so like, because of that, like my parents have never pressured me into like going into a particular career or anything, just wherever, like I feel God's call.
Speaker 1:But like, oh my goodness.
Speaker 2:All the comments like oh, why is your doctor like your dad, like I think that was so, more so was like my brother to my brother, because you know, it's a guy who's a lot more fresher and he's actually going into like industrial design or something which is like a pretty cool job, but it's just like my parents have never pressured me, but I know other people definitely have.
Speaker 1:That really is impressive. We've got a lot of parents that listen to this too, and I think that is an awesome testimony, because knowing that you have the smarts, knowing that you've got the brain to be able to do it, hey, why don't we take? Yeah, god's gifted you with kids. Why don't we go be a pediatrician? You know it would be easy for them to fall into that and to put that pressure. But I did not know that about your mother. Yeah, she doesn't like people knowing, but the fact that she's already made that decision on her own, like she's chosen, I'm going to do what God's called me to do and not worry about the money, not worry about the things, not worry about what this world says. So that all goes back to students.
Speaker 1:If you're listening, last Wednesday we talked about not being normal. That's not normal. That is not normal what your mom has done, and your mom has set an example. That's not normal for you to tell you. It's okay to not be normal and we, as followers of Christ, have got to be okay, not being normal, not being like this world, and that is so hard to do, and even when we can do it for a brief moment, it's hard not to go back to normal when things get tough. And so, man, that is such a powerful testimony there and I'm thankful that our students get to hear this. I had no idea where this interview would go, but, man, there's so much power, so much packed in there, and we support you. We're so proud of you. We want to be a part of the things that you do going forward.
Speaker 1:I know that this right here, this interview alone you just pulling back the veil a little bit to talk about, hey, everybody sees me as a state champion, but everything in life hasn't been perfect, and the reason that I have the peace and the joy that I have is because I've chosen to make the hard decisions, because God has called me to it, that he's put those things in place, and I hope that, out of the hundreds of students that will listen to this, that just one, if it's just one, that says you know what she can do it, she's done it, she's been successful at it.
Speaker 1:I don't have to be like this world. I can go and do what God has equipped me to do, what he has called me to do and the rest of it doesn't matter. You know that is exactly the message that we want for our students today, so is there anything else? Any final words you want to leave with our students that are listening about maybe some of the things that they're going to face as they come up through high school? Whatever's on your heart that God would have you to share with them?
Speaker 2:Two things that I would say is. The first thing is wherever God calls, he's going to provide and um so if you feel like god's calling you to a particular field or particular sport, it's it's sinful to like, there's like admission and there's like transgressions, like there's two different things. It's like it's openly like disobeying god's rule and like or like not doing what he's called to.
Speaker 2:those are both's rule, and like or like not doing what he's called to do, those are both disobedience and so like if you know, like God's called me to do something and it's like really, really uncomfortable, like if it's to walk to your youth pastor like hey, I want to go be in the band on Wednesday nights.
Speaker 2:Like you are being sinful not answering that call or not and so just knowing that, and then the second thing that I would like these kids with is like know that sports don't define your worth, grades don't define your worth, who you're friends with, who you're dating that doesn't define your worth, like I think. Actually, for a girl it's really hard because you go on Instagram and you're just like, oh, these girls like they seem to have it all together. They seem to have like, they seem to be in like, uh, what's that? Uh, ed, I think that's like the high school sorority around here and I remember being like, oh, my gosh, they seem to have so many friends, they seem to be so successful, they seem to have it all together. But it's like, no, be content with what God's gift is Like what God has given you in being focused on the mission, living on the mission and knowing that you are not good enough, but Christ is good enough and Christ is good enough, and like Christ in you is enough, and like living through that and knowing that your worth is not defined by anything other than what Christ has revealed to us, so like living in
Speaker 2:that and like when you fail, looking at Christ, when you're succeeding, thanking Christ, and it doesn't. It's not a public display. It doesn't mean like when you win a match, like you're like making this whole Christ scene pointing to the sky, like, no, that's not what it means. It's are you living your life all the days leading up to the state tournament? How are you acting when you're cutting weight? Like, are you glorifying God? And it's like it's not about the flashy moments. It's about the mundane and being faithful to God and the little that he's gifted you with.
Speaker 1:That is so awesome. Thank you so much for being with us this morning and we are praying for you as you go forward, and we look forward to hearing from you again about all the amazing things that have happened in college, and you're just a few weeks away from graduation. Yes, sir, congratulations on Salutatorian and all the things that God is going to use you for and me as a board member here in Calhoun County. I look forward to the day that you come back home and you apply for one of those family consumer science jobs, so we're going to have to make sure that we hold a spot for whenever you come back. So thank you for being with us. We appreciate you and continue to follow Christ wherever he leads.