By Mallory Mattingly
Whether he has an Olympic gold medal around his neck or a Stanley Cup in his home, hockey star Jaccob Slavin doesn’t play for the accolades; he plays for the Lord.
“I think for me, it just puts it all in perspective. Honestly, going to the Olympics and being able to compete on a world stage, it doesn’t build the nerves for me knowing that whether it’s the Olympic gold medal game or whether it’s an NHL preseason game, my mindset is still the same of I want to glorify God with the abilities He’s given me and and play with the confidence that He instills in me,” the Carolina Hurricanes defenseman shared in an interview discussing his experience with Team USA.
Related: NHL Player Jaccob Slavin Glorifies God ‘On and Off the Ice’
Slavin played in all six games the USA men had in Italy during the Winter Olympics. He averaged 13:09 per game and even added his name to the “score sheet with an assist in the team’s win over Latvia in group play,” the NHL reported.
“I’m not playing for the approval of fans, of coaches, of players, or whatever it is, I’m not out there searching for their approval,” he continued. “I’m out there to play for Him and glorify Him regardless of performance, and knowing that whatever my performance is, He’s still gonna love me. Just the perspective of that helps me have confidence, that helps me stay even keel and be able to go through whatever circumstance it is, with joy, with confidence.”
“And then with winning the gold medal, obviously such a blessing, such a an amazing thing to do. But also with that, it gives me the same perspective of, okay, I can’t take this to the grave with me when I die,” Slavin emphasized. “And so as much as [it’s] an honor it is to win this and be able to do it representing the USA, I know it’s something that’s fleeting, and so I know that it’s going to pass, but the joy of the Lord is what lasts forever for me. And so I really keep that as my main focus, and that is my true identity as being His child, and that’s where my true joy comes from.”
On his Instagram page, Slavin writes “All glory to God” and features a favorite Bible verse, Galatians 1:10, in his bio.
The verse reads, “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
We love seeing champions like Slavin who know their true reward is found in Christ’s victory on the cross.
Read Next: ‘Power of Christ to Free’: NHL Wife Kylie Slavin Shares Testimony
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