Aubrey Bledsoe, the current goalkeeper of Washington Spirit, shared her Christian household and how her parents raised her as a believer. The 29-year-old soccer star used to play for Orlando Pride.
Leaning on Christ
In a report with Sports Spectrum, Bledsoe said she has leaned on her faith in Christ throughout her career. She told the news outlet that she grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio.
She credited her parents for paving the foundation for her faith. As a young child, she said her family expected her to go to church every Sunday.
The goalkeeper of the year nominee stressed that her attending church and reading the Bible was more than an act of obedience.
She recalled that she and her siblings had to pay attention during Mass and read their Bibles.
Cultivating her Faith
Bledsoe was a college player at Wake Forest University from 2010 to 2013. She was a two-time first-team All-ACC selection. The soccer star also was a three-time All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
Since she was far away from home, Bledsoe learned to cultivate her faith. She said she wanted to take responsibility for building a relationship with Christ.
She admitted that it was a gradual process and involved letting go of her pride. Bledsoe said that when she was younger, she did not see the need to strengthen her faith. She said she had what people called "the good life."
Bledsoe added that when she grew in her faith and prayer life, she saw she needed something more. The soccer star said that she felt joy and peace in Christ.
Stop Focusing on Worldly Desires
She then encouraged people to build their faith, saying that God called everyone to a life of freedom and joy. Bledsoe admitted that she missed out on a lot before because she focused on worldly desires.
The Washington Spirit star said that she found that it was not all about her performance but her faith in Christ. For her, it was an eye-opening experience.
Bledsoe said she plans to spread Christ's love in every opportunity she gets.
Missionary Disguised as Soccer Player
In a previous interview with His Huddle, the superstar athlete shared that her faith in Christ influenced everything in her career.
She thought of herself as "a missionary disguised as a soccer player." Bledsoe said that she spread God's Word during her travels.
The soccer star said it was through God that she played without fear. She also believed that God called her to be a soccer player to help inspire others.
She admitted that she used to get upset when her team lost. Bledsoe also said she was afraid of making mistakes before she grew her faith.
The soccer star added that she now sees soccer as a form of worship.
"I love being out on the field feeling like I'm doing exactly what the Lord has created me to do. I know he is pleased with me," she said.
Now, Bledsoe admitted that her faith kept her going through the highs and lows of her career and personal life.
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