Four Ways Athletes Can Pursue Growth Like Jesus

Being an athlete means always chasing growth—on the field, in the gym, and in life. But real growth doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of daily choices, consistent effort, and intentional focus. In Luke 2:52, we get a simple but powerful snapshot of Jesus' development: "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."

If Jesus (who was fully God and fully man) chose a path of steady, intentional growth, how much more should we as athletes commit to growing in every area of our lives? Luke 2:52 shows us four key areas where we should focus: wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with man.

Growing in Wisdom

Wisdom is about more than just gaining knowledge; it’s about knowing how to live well. As athletes, we need wisdom for more than just learning plays or strategies. We need it for handling pressure, navigating relationships, and making decisions that impact our future.

Growing in wisdom means becoming a learner, not just about your sport, but about life. It requires humility—the willingness to admit you don't know it all—and a desire to seek God's guidance. Athletes who grow in wisdom lead themselves and their teammates with maturity and purpose, both on and off the field.

If you want to grow in wisdom, start by surrounding yourself with wise people. Seek out coaches, mentors, and teammates who live with integrity and maturity. Read books that stretch you, listen to advice even when it’s hard, and pray for God to shape your thinking. Growth in wisdom doesn’t just make you a better athlete; it makes you a better leader, friend, and follower of Christ.

Growing in Stature

Stature involves physical growth, strength, and discipline. As athletes, building your body is part of your everyday life. But the Greek word used for stature in Luke 2:52 (hēlikia) also points to growing in maturity. This is often evidenced by handling success and failure with grace, managing emotions, and taking responsibility for your choices.

Athletes who grow in stature don't just rely on natural talent. They show up early, stay late, and do the hard work that others avoid. They take care of their bodies through training, rest, and healthy habits. More importantly, they carry themselves with maturity, knowing their actions reflect not just on themselves, but on the teams and people they represent.

One way to grow in stature is to focus on small daily habits. Excellence isn’t built overnight. It's built in the hidden moments—what you eat, how you sleep, the reps you don’t skip, the words you speak when no one is watching. The athletes who pay attention to the small things consistently over time are the ones who grow in stature. Commit to the small, unseen disciplines and trust God to multiply the results.

Growing in Favor with God

At the center of Jesus' life was His relationship with His Father. Everything He did flowed from His connection to God. For athletes, it's easy to let sports become the center of life. But true success comes when your relationship with God is your foundation.

Growing in favor with God means making time for Him even in the busiest seasons. It’s trusting that who you are in God's eyes matters more than stats, awards, or social media followers. It’s living with the confidence that your identity is secure because of Jesus, not because of your athletic performance.

One way to grow in favor with God is to create simple spiritual routines that fit into your athletic life. Pray before workouts and games, asking God for strength and to glorify Him in how you compete. Memorize a verse each week and meditate on it during tough practices. Find ways to worship God even through your sport by seeing training and competing as acts of worship, not just personal achievement. When your relationship with God deepens, it impacts every part of your life—including how you compete.

Growing in Favor with Man

Jesus also grew in favor with others through building relationships based on trust, respect, and love. As an athlete, you have a platform. How you treat your teammates, coaches, opponents, and fans matters.

Growing in favor with man isn’t about seeking popularity. It's about living with character. It’s about being someone others can trust and respect. When you practice humility, show up for others, and lead by example, you gain influence that extends far beyond the scoreboard.

If you want to grow in favor with others, focus on serving instead of shining. Encourage teammates even when you’re not playing. Help a freshman who’s struggling. Congratulate an opponent after a hard match. People are drawn to athletes who care more about others than about looking good themselves. And as you grow in favor with others, you also open doors for sharing your faith in powerful ways.

Application for Athletes

1. Prioritize Your Wholistic Growth

It’s easy to focus only on getting stronger or faster and miss the bigger picture. But if you want to be the kind of athlete who makes a lasting impact, you need to grow in every area of life. Pick one area from Luke 2:52—wisdom, stature, favor with God, or favor with man—and set a goal for this season. Maybe it's committing to a Bible reading plan, building healthier habits, seeking advice from a mentor, or working on emotional maturity during competition. Growth doesn’t happen overnight. It happens when you take intentional, consistent action.

2. Root Your Athletic Identity in Christ

It’s tempting to let your sport define you. Wins, losses, stats, and awards can quickly become what you base your worth on. But if you’re rooted in Christ, you know you are loved, chosen, and valuable no matter how you perform. Practically, this means spending time with God daily, reminding yourself that your primary identity is as His child. It means praying before practices and games, not just for success, but for a heart that honors Him. It means resting well, trusting that your value isn’t tied to always "grinding" harder. It means getting in a community of like-minded people to remind you of who you are. When your identity is firmly in Christ, you’ll compete with freedom, lead with humility, and handle both success and failure with confidence.

3. Challenge Yourself to Grow

As an athlete, it’s easy to focus only on physical training, but Jesus’ example reminds us that true growth involves more than just improving your skills. Take a moment to reflect on the four key areas of Jesus’ growth and how you are doing in those areas. Consider your relationships, your character, and your spiritual health. Set a goal to intentionally grow in one of these areas this season, whether it’s seeking wisdom from others, developing healthier habits, or strengthening your relationship with God. Growth is a process, but it begins with the decision to focus on becoming the person God desires you to be.