Why Patriots RB Ty Montgomery Turns to God After Failure: ‘True Healing’
By Movieguide® Contributor
For many athletes, processing failure takes work. For New England Patriots running back Ty Montgomery, failure requires true surrender to God.
In a SportsSpectrum podcast, Montgomery shared how failure trapped him in a cycle of shame and “committing the same sin over and over again.”
“I would hit these seasons where I would be doing really well and then all of a sudden, I would fall and I would be like, ‘Why do I keep doing this?” he explained.
He continued, “And then all of a sudden, I’m having a hard time asking for forgiveness. I’m having a hard time trying to repent. In my mind, I’ve repented. In my heart I have a desire to repent but why did this keep happening? Why do I keep doing this?”
Failures “are often what defines how we see ourselves,” Montgomery wrote on his website. “It’s easy to let the shame of who we wish we had been in a single moment bury us. It keeps us from who we were made to be because each time we try to get back up, it comes in and reminds us of who we weren’t. But that’s a self-reliant posture and when I rely on myself, I’ll fall every time.”
“True healing and overcoming failure actually don’t start with self-improvement. They start with returning to God when we fail,” he added.
“You don’t have to return to God cleaned up,” he continued. “Healing begins by returning to God, angry. Returning to Him embarrassed. Returning to Him disappointed. When we do this, we allow God to start working to unravel the damage that failure has done in our lives.”
“Truly returning to God starts with a heart posture. It doesn’t start by focusing on your failure, but by turning toward God, letting Him love you while dirty and unsuccessful, and allowing Him to do the work in you. Before you know it, your desires change because of where your trust lies and who you submit yourself to,” Montgomery expressed.
The running back also reflected on returning to God after setting feelings up as an idol.
“Submit your feelings to the Lord. Get rid of your idols. Jesus said if you love me, then you’ll obey me…The only perfect love is God’s love, but where is yours?” Montgomery asked his Instagram followers.
“When you hurt, when you struggle, when you feel pain, when your unhealed trauma is triggered, do you obey Jesus and run to Him, casting your cares on Him entering the throne room of heaven boldly…or do you obey the feelings that have told you ‘this is how you help us’ by running, avoiding, drinking, drugs, video games, people, relationships, etc,” he continued.
“You see, anything that you do besides run to Him when you FEEL things might be an indication of an idol present in your life…There’s something that you go to more than God. There is a feeling that you are obeying more than God,” he concluded his post.
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Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
