It is easy to be grateful for victory on the tennis court, to feel alive with success, to enjoy sunshine and blue skies.

But what about defeat, disappointment, aching muscles and—horror of horrors—double faults and unforced errors? Wait—there are more disappointments; poor decisions, weak technique, lack of movement…so many ways to lose points, games, and matches.

Is there room for gratitude?

Yes, not only is there room for gratitude but a great need to express it. And this is one of the ironies of a life lived in Christ—the Abundant Life; gratitude in ALL things.

You see, I cannot be weak, frail, and ineffective in tennis without first having the blessing of God in my life. In other words, all the things that are associated with defeat on the court are actually praises to a God who gives me health, comfort, resources for living, and community to participate in the first place.

Expanding on this:

Tennis is a metaphor for life. Moreover, it is not simply that tennis resembles life, but that the same God who gives us the ability to play also sustains us through the playing—especially the losses. The game becomes a way of recognizing grace. And this is cause for gratitude.

Back to tennis.

Every serve is a gift. Every return is a response. Every point is grace.

God doesn't  promise that we won't double-fault. He promises that our failure doesn't have to be our final point.

We don't need to win every point to be grateful for the opportunity to play.

The scoreboard measures the match. It does not measure the person.

And perhaps the most powerful lesson we can take from tennis is this:

The greatest blessing isn't that God keeps us from double faults and unforced errors. It is that He gives us the strength, humility, and grace to pick up the ball and serve again, prepared to laugh at defeat, recoup after failure, and hope that the next serve is an ace.

Quench your thirst for more God on the Tennis Courts.