{"id":29768,"date":"2023-11-08T09:30:37","date_gmt":"2023-11-08T14:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=29768"},"modified":"2024-02-22T13:38:41","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T18:38:41","slug":"steelers-lb-alex-highsmith-shares-why-his-identity-is-in-christ-i-play-for-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2023\/11\/steelers-lb-alex-highsmith-shares-why-his-identity-is-in-christ-i-play-for-him.html","title":{"rendered":"Steelers LB Alex Highsmith Shares Why His Identity is in Christ: ‘I Play For Him’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Smitty_5 \/ Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith recently joined the Sports Spectrum Podcast<\/a> to share why finding his identity in Christ keeps him grounded through everything. He said, \u201cJust staying grounded and having that firm foundation is huge for me. In my three years of being in the NFL so far, my third season, I think Christ was just reminding me that my identity is in Him and Him alone.\u201d<\/p>\n

Highsmith added, \u201cAt least three-quarters of the chapel sessions of the 2022 season were wrapped around identity and where our identity is. So, I think that the Lord just continued to remind me that my identity is in Him and not my performance. I think that\u2019s the thing about being in the NFL. Like I said, it\u2019s a business, and you can get so caught up in how you perform, and you\u2019re judged on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cI think just knowing that my identity is in Christ and in Christ alone allows me just to go out there and play for Him. And knowing that no matter how I play, if I have a game with three sacks or a game with no sacks, no matter how I play performance-wise, God still loves me the same. He doesn\u2019t love me anymore if I play a great game, and He doesn\u2019t love me any less if I play a bad game.\u201d<\/p>\n

The linebacker previously\u00a0reflected<\/a>\u00a0on finding his identity in Christ:\u00a0\u201cJesus died for me, I\u2019ve got to live for Him. That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important because all the things in this world are fleeting. I love this game of football, it\u2019s amazing, but it\u2019s not my God. I\u2019ve tried to put my identity in the sport at times, and it\u2019s let me down. This game, it\u2019s great, but it\u2019s not going to be God.<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Alex Highsmith (@smittty_5)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n