The title of "athlete" is one that many experience in their youth, but only a few have the chance to pursue at a high level. Lyndsey Marshall was fortunate enough to do so, achieving her dream of competing at the collegiate level. However, during this time, she realized that the title of "athlete" wasn't as meaningful or significant as the title of being the daughter of "The Most-High King."

Lyndsey Marshall grew up in a Christian home and, from a young age, was familiar with the Gospel. She also knew that her desire was to grow in her faith and follow God's plan for her life. Alongside her spiritual foundation, Marshall developed a passion for athletics, which, over time, became a significant part of her identity. "Around middle school, I began to struggle with pride and an obsession over sports because it was something I excelled at. My identity started to become wrapped up in that."

Marshall went on to compete collegiately in both soccer and track and field. During this time, she said the Lord began to teach her how she could use her love for sports to glorify Him. She also recognized that the people around her played a key role in helping her understand how to do this. "The Lord surrounded me with great teammates and coaches who showed me how to do this. I learned not to make my sport everything and to not let it define my identity," Marshall explained.

When it comes to glorifying God through sports, Marshall explained that for her, it involves submitting to Him, learning to enjoy the sport, and understanding that while it's not wrong to be deeply committed, it's important to recognize what should come first. "I ask myself, 'Is my first priority spending time with the Lord and diving into His Word? When people look at my life, do they say, 'Her life is all about sports,' or do they see that, while I play sports, I am a kind person who prioritizes time with the Lord and is committed to the church?'"

Through this realization, Marshall shared that she experienced freedom from the pressure of always having to be the best. "It took a lot of pressure off and allowed me to focus on more than just myself or what people thought of me. It became about the team, about each other, and about pouring into others." She explained that this shift in perspective made her experience in sports far more enjoyable.

Marshall, in her first year at CCU, explained that her moving to Colorado was fully in God's plan for her and her family. Wanting to move to a new place, Marshall said that she and her husband wanted to move somewhere where they could glorify God and see the Lord's work behind it. After considering Colorado, and discovering CCU online, Marshall realized she had a connection to the current athletic director, Jon Poag, and after sending him an email, the opportunity for her to continue her coaching career came at the perfect time, providing her with a chance to further develop her coaching philosophy, nurture her team's growth, and make a lasting impact on the community.

Since arriving at CCU, Marshall has learned that the Lord's plan is far beyond anything we can imagine. 'When it came to moving to Colorado, I thought to myself, "Yeah, that would be pretty cool," but the Lord said, "Actually, I have something for you here," and put it right in front of us,' Marshall explained. Her husband has since taken a job in ministry at a new church, which was a prayer they had before the move, proving to be a part of the Lord's work behind their relocation.

"The Lord has taught me over the last six months that His plan is better and so much bigger than we can see. All we have to do is look to Him and slowly try to take the next step, because we might not have the picture, but He will continually open the next door".

In her first season as an assistant coach, Marshall is focused not only on helping her team grow athletically but also on fostering personal and spiritual development. "I want them to grow in sports, but I also want them to grow spiritually, and that might not have sports involved at all," said Marshall. "I try to encourage them and help them recognize that their life is more than just sports."

As Marshall continues to grow in her coaching career, she aims to challenge not only her team but herself as well, encouraging growth beyond the walls of CCU. "I want to be able to encourage them in creative ways, so that as a team, we've grown in our relationships with each other. Now, how can we share that with the other teams we play? Relationships are built between the teams we face, so what can we do to nurture those connections and glorify and honor God?"