Kelsey Whitney, like David, Overcomes Fear

Like Goliath, we can defeat our enemy, whether it be fear, doubt, worry, or anything else. While playing varsity softball as a freshman, Kelsey did it!

By Kelsey Whitney, high school freshman

Categories: Gratitude

Freshman year and varsity softball -- a petrifying combination. I had been through a week of sports camp already, so I knew how things were going to work. But I had no idea that what I wanted more than anything would come with so much fear.

The whole softball team was sitting together in our meeting spot, eagerly waiting for Coach Leavoy to call the names that would depict the varsity and junior varsity softball teams. When Coach called my name to be on the varsity team, my heart stopped. I got up and followed the rest of the girls on the team out the door.

The moment I stepped onto the field with my new team, my head was full of questions:

• What if I'm not good enough?
• Are they going to think of me as too young to be of any assistance to the team?
• What if they don't like me?

I felt like I was David in the field preparing to fight Goliath. But instead of feeling confident, I felt fear shake through me for the next three practices. I gave 110% of my effort, but I just wasn't doing everything I was capable of. I was afraid the team, and the coaches for that matter, would think I wasn't worth having on the team. It seemed as if no matter how hard I slung the pebbles (those stones which David had chosen out of the brook) out of my slingshot, they had no effect on the overall picture. Those pebbles were symbolic of my prayers. I had to handle my fear and doubt with prayer, but I was too scared to really take control.

By about the seventh practice with the varsity girls, I started to feel more comfortable with them, and I was able to show them how I really play. My pebbles finally started to take effect. Goliath was slowly being defeated, though I felt like I was both the Philistines and the Israelites. I doubted myself as often as I told myself that I was just as good as any of the other girls out there.

When we got to our first game, the adrenaline was rushing through my body, and I couldn't wait to just get out there and do what I love. With the adrenaline came fear … and a lot of it. There I was again, in the field waiting to battle Goliath. The Philistines and the Israelites were arguing, and I was unbelievably confused. But I clung to my slingshot and went out and did what I had to do. My slingshot was my concentration. With the many thoughts that were running through my head, I had to hold on to something, and that something was concentration. As I started to concentrate more, I could make my prayers clear. With every prayer I flung out of my slingshot I became more comfortable and began to play the way I know to play.

Each and every person played her heart out, and we ended up winning. I had a very good game and got some awesome hits. I had nailed Goliath right in the forehead. I felt invincible. From that game on, I felt like I was a part of the team. We all worked together perfectly, and we made up the perfect team. At the end of the season we ended up winning districts, and I was named "All District." It was like when David was named king. I felt my dreams came true.