The Suffering Athlete

Sports can bring some of life’s greatest joys. It can also bring some of its deepest disappointments. 

But suffering does not have to steal your joy. In his first letter, the apostle Peter wrote to believers who knew what suffering meant. His message was not simply to endure until life got easier. He pointed them to Jesus Christ and showed them how suffering can deepen faith, produce holiness, strengthen hope, and teach us to stand firm in God’s grace.

The Suffering Athlete takes athletes through the book of 1 Peter in twelve practical studies designed to connect the truth of Scripture with the pressures of athletic leadership. Through biblical teaching, coaching applications, personal reflection, and prayer, you will discover how to follow Christ faithfully when the season—and life—doesn’t go according to plan. 

Cole Limbaugh is a former athlete and coach who is passionate about equipping and empowering coaches with the Gospel. As the son of a longtime coach, he knows firsthand about the trials and thrills of leading an athletic program. As a Division I pitcher who was also drafted in the 2011 MLB Draft, he has experienced the highs and lows of athletic competition. He knows that the only lasting joy in life is found through an abiding relationship with the Lord Jesus. Cole has been on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since 2016. He is a graduate of Samford University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Kaitlyn, have four children and reside in Jacksonville, Alabama.