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Wow! As I sit and think back to my conversation with Annie Cooke, I am still blown away by her words and her wisdom. At a young age, Annie felt the Lord’s calling. Today, she shares with us her story of faith and how the Lord has carried her through times of difficulty and uncertainty to where she is now at the University of Houston playing volleyball. There, she is able to help lead her team, even as a sophomore, encouraging her teammates and reminding them that they are not playing for themselves, but playing to glorify God. She even states, “All of this is to glorify God, because the minute I start believing that it’s for my own benefit, and putting myself on a platform, and putting myself above everyone else, that’s the minute I lose, because it’s not about me.”
Annie serves to inspire others to honor the Lord on and off the field. During our talk, she gives the listeners practical insight to knowing your worth as well as ways of implementing biblical principles into your daily leadership. In the midst of what felt like the middle of the unknown, Annie allowed the Lord to work in her life, and boy did He.
Today’s episode is one for everyone. Grab a cup of coffee and let her honest encouragement wash over you. Whether you are a high school athlete struggling to find direction, someone trying to overcome rejection, or a mom trying to find community, my conversation with Annie is one that you do not want to miss!
3 key takeaways from this episode:
How the Lord can speak through a “no”
What some of us may fail to realize is that the Lord can speak and move through a “no”. What Annie shares with me in this episode is how the Lord used a “no” in her life to shift her perspective and see how the good outweighs the bad. This eventually led her to where she is today at the University of Houston.
Effective leadership
A profound statement that Annie made during our conversation was, “You don’t have to look like everyone else to lead well.” To be an effective leader, does not mean looking like everyone else around you. She shares that while others may have a stronger, very direct leadership style, she leads quietly from the back leading by love and encouragement. What a wise example for all of us to live by!
How to find your voice
Looking to others can be helpful sometimes, but when it comes to finding your own voice, Annie shares how she found her voice. She derives her motives and ambitions from the Bible. Her voice comes from the stories found throughout the text. She tells from personal experience how finding your voice by copying others has led to emptiness and failure.
Follow the FAM: @femaleathletemission
Follow Annie: @anniegcooke
