Quote

"You can never get enough of what you don't really need to make you happy."
- Eric Hoffer

Real Life

David Whaton is an ex-professional tennis athlete from America whose life was transformed at 24 years old.

His love for the sport began at age four when he first picked up his racquet and by eight years old, he was competing in local tournaments, going professional at 19 years old. In 1991 he won the Grand Slam Cup in Munich, and made the semifinals at Wimbledon, reaching No. 12 in the world.

David reflects on his tennis career as a time filled with fame, financial success, and impressive achievement. From the outside, it looked like he had everything, but on the inside, he struggled with a growing sense of emptiness. Despite his victories, he realised that the success he had worked so hard for didn’t bring the lasting fulfilment he had hoped it would.

At the 1991 Grand Slam Cup in Munich, David won one of the year’s biggest tournaments and the largest prize money cheque in tennis history. But just 15 minutes later, as all 12,000 fans left the stadium, he was struck by how quickly it ended, leaving him with an unexpected sense of emptiness. “I had spent my whole childhood and teenage years practicing tennis, I had played hundreds of matches in junior, collegiate and professional tournaments, I had worked so hard just to qualify for and win this tournament, and now everyone just gets up and leaves. For the first time in my life, the brevity of earthly success hit me hard.”

David grew up in a Christian home and knew the truths of the Bible, but still felt something was missing. He was aware of God’s path, but still choosing to live according to his own desires. After his Grand Slam win, he began reading the Bible more intentionally and reflecting on biblical principles. That’s when things clicked - he realised his life wasn’t aligned with what God wanted, and it was time for a change. In Matthew 16:24-25, Jesus says we must deny ourselves and follow Him. God asks us to set aside personal desires, ambitions, and selfishness to live God’s way instead. Easier said than done, this is an act of sacrifice and self-denial.

What could you set aside to grow closer to God? Maybe it’s making time in your day for prayer and Bible reading, spending more time with Christian friends who encourage your faith, or simply being thankful. Choosing God over temporary pleasures offers something success never can - deep joy and lasting peace. That kind of peace is priceless.

Bible Verse

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:24-25

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for offering me more than this world can give. Help me to turn to you rather than looking for joy in the wrong places.

Author: Michaela Jameson  |   Content Editor: Phil Pawley