< Daily Devotions

What If You’re Not Winning Enough?

January 30, 2025

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. And hope does not put us to shame because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)

Emma Talley, one of the most decorated amateur golfers of the past decade, recently retired from professional golf. The 30-year-old, now pregnant with her first child, never won on the LPGA.

In a recent interview, Talley had plenty to say about what she wished she’d done differently or known about playing golf at the highest level, but one thing really stood out.

“I’d always won, and I didn’t know how not to win,” said Talley, winner of the U.S. Women’s Amateur and NCAA Championship.

“I think you have to fall in love with the process.”

A few days later, I was sitting in the daycare parking lot with my son, listening to a praise and worship song about valleys, when Emma’s words popped into my head. Victories are so rare, whether in golf or life. The climb out of the valley always seems to take longer than the amount of time we’re given to enjoy the view at the top.

Players win on Sunday, but when they wake up on Monday, they find that everyone has moved on to the next event.

Emma became obsessed with winning, but as she reached the end of her professional journey, she realized that she needed to find joy in the process.

What a beautiful lesson to apply to all aspects of life.

How many times have I thought: If I can just make it to (fill in the blank), then I will be satisfied, then I will be happy. Then I will be free.

God wants us to meet him at every step of the journey. To praise him as he meets our needs at every turn, sharpening us along the way.

James 1:2-4 says, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (NIV)

Prayer: Father God, thank you for the mountains and the valleys. Please help us count it all joy as we pursue what you’ve placed in our hearts.

Beth Ann Nichols
Pub Date: January 30, 2025

About The Author

Beth Ann Nichols played collegiate golf at Florida Southern College and has covered the game for Golfweek since 2002. She’s especially stoked about a recent birthday gift: her first push cart.