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Photo by Tony Metaxas

Editor's Note: Wilkinson failed to successfully defend her Olympic title in diving, coming in fifth place instead. Still, she continues to show the heart of a champion—a champion for Christ. Here's the online journal entry that Laura posted on her website the day after her disappointing loss.

I ended up 5th place at the 2004 Olympic Games. And I had the time of my life getting there.

I made up my mind before the contest to enjoy it-every step of the way. And I did.

Sure I'm a little disappointed because my goal was to win. But I fought with everything I had and it simply wasn't my time to win. I didn't dive the way I had hoped to or up to level I knew I was capable of, but that's sport, that's competition. You can't win every single meet, but you can put your heart on the line and try. That's exactly what I did. I did not hold back. I did not play it safe. I put my heart on the line because I was diving for God. I know He'll use this and make so much good from it! I trust Him. Just like I quoted [fellow diver] Kimiko Soldati in my last journal entry: "You don't have faith so you can get what you want. You have faith for who He is."

I will trust God and His plan. Today I'm relying on this verse:

"In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Everything in life comes down to a choice. I can choose to accept my 5th place finish and remember it fondly, or I can live and fester in bitterness over not winning. I choose to embrace this experience, make great memories, and learn from it.

But the ultimate choice that we have in life is because of Jesus. We can choose to ignore Him, reject Him, or just try to avoid Him. Or we can choose to realize what His sacrifice on the cross means. It means that He doesn't care where you come from or what you've done, He still loves you and He died to give you a second chance! He took our place on that cross- even before we were born- because He loves us that much! John 3:16 & 17 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world, to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."

Sometimes it's hard to accept because it's not something we can earn from doing good things and we can't buy our way in. But you can choose to accept that God loves us with such an amazing grace that He died for us- for you. Look back up at John 3:16, and substitute your name for "the world." That's what He's telling you-that He loves you so much, so far beyond your understanding of love, so unconditionally that He sacrificed Himself so that you can have everlasting life.

If you have never accepted Jesus in your life, but you want to take that step now, you can use your own words and pray a prayer similar to this:

"Jesus, I am a sinner. Thank you for taking my place and dying for my sins. Right now, I open the door of my heart and accept You as my Lord and Savior. The best I know how, I give you my life. Thank You for forgiveness and for giving me a new life. Help me to be what You want me to be and to live each day for You. Amen."

To learn more about Laura, visit her website at www.laurawilkinson.com.

Copyright © 2004 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine.

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