‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight’  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Having heard Proverbs 3:5-6 in so many devotionals and encouragements, I was at risk of letting this verse lose its real significance and power.  The past couple of months have seen a massive change of direction for me and have required a lot of trusting in God and a lot of leaning on His understanding, not mine!

On my route to the GB Olympic rowing Team for 2012 I was selected for the European Championships in the Lightweight double this summer but, three weeks before the event I suffered a bad back/rib injury which has been a recurring problem for me over the last few years.  As you can imagine, this was a devastating blow at the time and after suffering glandular fever the season before, I was almost angry with God and definitely couldn’t see how this fitted in with His plan for me! 

  Did I really have God in the driving seat of my life or was I in danger of being a backseat driver, trying to direct God where to take my life.  I was totally fixed on my rowing and desperately trying to make the 2012 team, with time rapidly running out. 

The injury made me seriously reconsider where I was heading.  I had always planned to do a masters when I’d finished rowing before going into work and had looked at starting this at Imperial in September 2012.  However, God’s timing was yet again perfect, and the physio’s decision that I was not fit to race in the European championships came just a week before the applications for the masters at Imperial closed for that year. 

So, I applied, had an interview, and against all odds, given the stringent entry requirements, I was accepted onto the course.  As you can imagine, having started the course now, with 9 to 5 lectures during the week, I am living a very different life to that of the last couple of years rowing full time.  Although a shock to the system at first, I am thoroughly enjoying the course and representing Christ in Engineering now too! 

I am amazed how God's perfect timing has guided me from one stage in life to the next and out of despair, injury and anger has come the excitement of a fresh new start.  He just got hold of the steering wheel and refused to be told where to go, instead making the path straight and clear! Amazing!

Nick Fearnhead, Christians in Sport at Leander Rowing Club

For more amazing stories about how God is working through our sportsmen and women see www.christiansinsport.org.uk