Spiritual Formation | 2/28/2026 8:06:00 PM

Written by: Mia Bergman

Standing on the line, fear coursed through my body. I planned to source all my pain and hurt into the race, but in that moment, all those feelings left me, and I was completely blank. I prayed a half-hearted prayer, and the gun went off. In the days leading up to the race, my goal was simply to score for my team. My prior dreams had vanished over the course of the season, and at this point, an 8th-place finish would've been enough.

I set off in the race—the least locked in I had ever been—honestly, just purely running. Through the first lap, I came through around 10th place and surprisingly felt unwound. I figured I'd move up since 8th place seemed more attainable now. Coming through the second lap, I again had no aches in my legs, so I continued ahead, running into the top five. The third lap finished, and I found myself with an abundance of energy. Mindlessly, I began to move up, cheering on my teammate as I passed.

In the final lap, I began to stride faster, and soon, with 150 meters left, I realized I was in second place. With that in mind, I finally switched my mind into race mode and went hard, looking to keep my podium finish as I knew others would creep up behind me. Through the line, I saw a time of 4:25—a true 1500m PR for me. Tears streamed down my face as I thanked the Lord for such a special blessing I knew I was undeserving of. My teammates and trainer soon came to hug me, knowing what a meaningful moment this was after such a hard season. An unexpected second-place finish at the ASUN Conference, on a podium I shared with my two other teammates, was truly a blessing.

Rewinding to that January, I began at Lipscomb as a transfer, excited to start fresh and have what I anticipated to be a big track season. As the months went on, I knew I was in the right place the Lord had for me, but my circumstances were far from what I had prepared for. Among many things in life, I found myself struggling with mental health. At first, I didn't recognize it, but it eventually hit me hard and became overwhelming.

The race I mentioned at the beginning of this article took place during one of the darkest times for me, and unfortunately, it only worsened by the end of May and early June. Sitting in my backyard one summer evening, I cried out to God, wondering what my purpose was and why I was having such a hard time mentally, in running, and in school. In the days that followed, I did not receive a direct answer, but I knew my only recourse was to trust the Lord, since He is unfailing and always faithful. I sat in my sadness and unknowing, but I did not let these things define me, as I knew my identity lay only in the Lord.

I was not rushing to suppress or overcome the struggle; instead, I meditated and prayed through each moment. It's not a given that circumstances will turn out okay; God does not owe us anything. But I had faith in prayer that the strength to face my hardships would come from God alone. For God doesn't call us to pray away seasons but to pray for the strength to endure and learn from them.

By fully surrendering and acknowledging my own mistakes that led me to that dark place, I was able to receive the Lord's forgiveness in full and begin the healing process. It took realizing my own iniquity and the nature of sin to really step into the Lord's full, purposeful way of living.

As the days and months went on, my whole perspective and demeanor changed. I knew Christ before and had walked closely with Him in the past, but this time I had new experiences and truth spoken into my life that led me even closer to Him. And by knowing Him deeper, I found myself loving Him more.

A significant aspect of this was defining what was truly important in my life and what mattered most to me. School is a privilege that should be done diligently, but achieving a 4.0 GPA does not get me any closer to the Kingdom. Being a steward of my studies is important, as obtaining a master's degree is something few are offered, but it should not overshadow God's purpose for my life.

Above school, running had always been my top priority in college. My training and competition were highly valued, and I devoted a significant amount of my mental energy to that zone. After a rough spring season and entering my final cross-country season, I adopted a new approach to running throughout the summer. I began to enjoy running just for what it was—an extra blessing from God.

Sport is fleeting and temporary, and in the grand scheme of life, if my tears and stress are from a sport, my life is inherently wealthy in all ways. And this is the mentality I took into the season, leaving me with fewer nerves before races and more of an excited anticipation.

What became my highest priority were the conversations and relationships with my teammates—speaking truth and life into each other every day. If the takeaway of the season is each person stepping into their identity in Christ, that will have been the most successful and glorifying season to the Lord possible.

That doesn't mean I don't want championships or national-qualifying performances; those are the goals I strive for each day. But my life is called to be a living sacrifice and testament to God's work in my life. If that means purely having meaningful and God-honoring connections with people at Lipscomb, that is more than enough, and I will be content.

I believe the Lord brought me here for a purpose greater than I ever imagined. I sought athletic success and academic clarity, which I have achieved in different ways, but my greatest takeaway has been a shift in my walk with Christ. I know that next year and the years to come, I am secure in my identity as the Lord's daughter, and I am immensely grateful for the people the Lord has placed in my life, walking with me through joy and sadness.

Thank you for reading what the Lord has done in my life. I hope it brings you some comfort, wherever you are in life.