Mary Joe Fernandez is a Grand Slam winner and Olympic tennis champion. She is a Catholic who has in her own words "made a commitment…to Jesus Christ. Mary Joe has been ranked consistently among the world’s top ten tennis players, as recently as 1995 and was ranked at #4 singles in 1990. Playing for the USA she won the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Doubles Gold medal with Gigi Fernandez.
Mary Joe comments, "One of the highest points and one of the lowest points in my life occurred in the early 1990’s. The high point was the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, where I won a bronze medal in singles in tennis and a gold medal in doubles. The low point was my abdominal surgery in 1993, which kept me bedridden for weeks and has led to a number of career hindering health problems since.
Something else was going on in my life around that time that was of more long lasting importance and put everything else into perspective for me. That's when I made a commitment of my life to Jesus Christ.
Even thought I grew up in a Christian home and had Christian values ingrained in me as a child, my "faith" wasn't really my own - it was more my parents. So eventually I went through a time of soul-searching looking for answers.
Two things helped me find those answers. I read the Gospel of John, as a friend recommended. I was also influenced by a book called "Power for Living". As I read the stories of athletes and celebrities who had put their faith in Jesus Christ, it hit me that I too need a turn my life over to the control of Christ. And this is just what I did!
Now I try to focus on having Jesus at the center of my life at all times. Everything I do is for His glory.
While I'm on the court or whenever I'm struggling, I recite Psalm 27:1 to myself: The Lord is my light and the one who saves me. I fear no one… Growing up, I always thought I was in control, but through my new found faith, I realized that isn't true. I can't do anything on my own, but I can do anything through Christ, who strengthens me.
As I've gone through illness, injuries and other setbacks, it's helped me to know that while we don't see the whole plan, God does. And relying on Christ helps me get through the trails.
Perhaps you're going through struggles yourself. Perhaps you are where I was when I first read similar stories - searching for answers. If so, I urge you to give control of your life over to Jesus today. You'll never be sorry you did"!