Dylan Gandy

Offensive Guard :: Detroit Lions

 

When I was in high school, I began to think about how I could make myself something big, someone who everyone would respect and like.  I reasoned with myself that if I could become a great football player, have a girlfriend, be considered popular among my peers and maintain the image of a "good guy," I would have it all together.  So I worked as hard as I could at trying to maintain all these things.  I worked out hard for football, did whatever it took to get a lot of friends, went to church and Fellowship of Christian Athletes meetings and did whatever else I thought would make people think I had it all together.  Through high school, it all worked pretty well. 

It wasn't until college that I started to see this philosophy was missing a huge piece as I was living to try to make everyone else like me.  I began to attend a Bible study with guys on my football team and for the first time, started to read and study the Bible. God began to teach me to let go of all the things that I had worshiped for so long: football, popularity and girls. However, I wasn't ready to trust Him and let go of those things. 

Then through many injuries and some other events, God began to take away all the things that formed my identity until only He was left. Finally I chose for the first time to seek Him, and only Him.  It was amazingly freeing and peaceful to know that who I am is who God designed me to be, and that I had His approval. 

The past five years have been amazing as I have learned to trust God with my life, instead of trusting what is going on around me.  I now know and trust that God does truly have my best in mind through all the ups and downs of life. Life spent trusting God is so much freer than one spent trying to maintain the “good guy” image.

 

 

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