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It's normal anymore to see professional athletes giving thanks to God after winning big games. At today's sports arenas, prayer huddles and WWJD bracelets are as ubiquitous as beer and hot dogs. But what we rarely get to see is how the Christian sports star reacts when he suffers a huge loss, when he's sidelined by injury, and when he's essentially written off by fans and media. Last year, St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner gave us a glimpse of a Christian player in the throes of adversity.

For Warner, last year was the worst of times. Seemingly destined for the NFL Hall of Fame, the two-time MVP suddenly was winless, going 0-6, while also missing time with a broken pinky and hand.

	"Last year was the greatest year of my life because of the spiritual growth I went through." —Kurt Warner

At the start of last season, the Rams were Super Bowl favorites. But with Warner and other players sidelined with injuries, the team (which had gone to the championship game the previous season) missed the playoffs, finishing with a losing record. What's more, Warner's teammates chose backup quarterback Marc Bulger as the team's MVP.

"Last season was difficult," Warner, 32, told Christian Reader. "In the fickle world of professional sports, where it's such a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately type business, I heard, 'You're too old. Your career's over. You'll never be back. It's all your fault.' There were times when it appeared that there was a spirit of division that was trying to come into the team."

Warner, though, says his life was at peace and rest away from football.

"As difficult as it was on the field, it was that great off the field," recalls Warner, who ironically became the league's No. 1 career passing leader in 2002 despite his poor season. "My spiritual growth was probably at an all-time high. Every time I prayed and got into the Word, God just spoke to me."

A devout member of the Ram's Bible-study group, Warner suggested his injury was a blessing in disguise. "I was spiritually enlightened and grew more than I could ever have expected, while going through such a difficult situation," he says. "It was the greatest year of my life because of the spiritual growth that I went through."

Tight end Ernie Conwell, Warner's best friend on the Rams (who signed with New Orleans Saints in the off season), says he "could see the presence of God" in Warner last season.

"The circumstances weren't dictating his value as a man and attitude on life," Conwell, says. "His walk with Christ grew stronger."

Now, Warner faces more adversity. After starting the first game of the season, a horrific performance against the New York Giants in which Warner committed several turnovers and suffered a concussion, his role with the Rams is once again in question. Bulger reclaimed the starting quarterback job, and as this is being written it's not clear whether Warner will get another chance to redeem himself in St. Louis.

Out of nowhere
Warner was the classic feel-good story in 1999 when the former grocery stock clerk led the previously hapless Rams to an improbable Super Bowl victory. On the way to garnering NFL and Super Bowl MVP honors, he gave the glory for his achievements to Jesus and boldly declared his faith to the media and fans.

His success continued as he won another MVP award and led the Rams to another Super Bowl. But the Cinderella story turned into a rags-to-riches-back-to-rags tale last year.

But Warner says God gave him solace through the story of Elijah, an Old Testament prophet who defeated hundreds of false prophets, but also fled in fear of Jezebel. The quarterback notes that "Elijah was a guy who came from nowhere—from a small place that's not even on the map now."

"God used him in an incredible way," observes Warner, who attends St. Louis Family Church. "He had spiritual victory after spiritual victory after spiritual victory. And then all of a sudden, he hit a time in his life when he went through fatigue, discouragement, and frustration. He turned and started to run.

"And God met him in the desert and basically said, 'You need to quit running. You need to look to me so that I can feed and replenish you.' In the end, God basically told Elijah, 'Go back to where you came from. Go back to where you ran from because my mission for you is not complete.'"

Warner realizes football is only a game, and that in the big picture of life his problems are small. But still, Elijah's story ministered and encouraged him.

"It was so similar to me—coming from nowhere, having all kinds of spiritual victories and victories on the field," he says. "Last season was a season of discouragement and frustration [for me]. But God told me, 'It's at this time that you need to lean on me. You need to feed off of me.' It's like he was saying, 'Hey, I'm not done with you yet. We've got a lot more to accomplish—don't get frustrated and don't get down.'"

First things first
Off the field, Warner hopes to continue to make a positive difference in the lives of others. While he loves football, he has an even greater heart for people. Warner and his wife, Brenda, launched the First Things First Foundation (www.kurtwarner.org) in 2001 to promote Christian values and reach out to those who are less fortunate. The foundation sponsors Disney World trips for ill kids, funds scholarships, and builds recreation centers in children's hospitals, always promoting Warner's life theme: "Faith and family come first." Warner is also living out this theme through his involvement with a new kids video series, The Good Sports Gang, which teaches faith, teamwork, and sportsmanship to young children ages 4 to 8.

And on the field, Warner's mission this year, of course, is to help the Rams rebound from a disappointing season. Only time will tell whether he'll get that opportunity again.

Conwell says he would not count out his former roommate and prayer partner. "If you look at his history, every time he's been challenged, he has thrived. I have no doubt that he'll come back and possibly have his best year ever."

A Christian Reader Original article. Eric Tiansay is a writer and editor for Strang Communications in Lake Mary, Florida.

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine (formerly Christian Reader).
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