FIERCE and Faithful: Competing as Woman of God

Fierce and Faithful: Competing as Women of God

Q: How can we compete fiercely while staying grounded in our worth as beloved daughters of God?

A: Competing fiercely means giving everything we have, our talent, discipline, effort, and even our suffering, all for the glory of God. But competition should never affect our true identity. Our worth does not depend on medals, points, or recognition. It is unshakably rooted in the fact that we are daughters of the Father, created in His image and likeness, with an inherent dignity, and redeemed by Christ.

St. John Paul II, in his Letter to Women, reminds us that dignity is not earned but given; it flows from who we are, not from what we achieve. This truth allows us to compete with greater freedom. When the scoreboard doesn’t determine our value, we can run, play, and compete with joy and intensity, knowing that success or failure does not change how much we are loved.

To be “fierce and faithful” means we can bring holy boldness onto the field or court. We fight for victory, we push through fatigue, we refuse to quit, but all of it is offered as a gift back to the One who gave us our gifts and talents. We can compete with confidence, humility, and sportsmanship, knowing God delights in us whether we win or lose. Grounded in prayer and secure in our identity in Christ, we can compete with passion yet remain unshaken, remembering that while training and discipline hold value, our ultimate crown is not a trophy but the crown of righteousness, promised to those who remain faithful.

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8