Finding Identity in Yahweh: What Disc Golf Teaches Us About the Great “I AM”

“God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, ‘Say this to the people of Israel: I AM has sent me to you.’”
— Exodus 3:14 (ESV)

In the game of disc golf, there are moments when we feel like we’re just not good enough—maybe it’s a tough hole, a rough round, or the feeling that we’ll never master that elusive forehand shot. In those moments, it’s easy to let our identity become tied to our performance. We start to define ourselves by our scorecards, our skills, or the mistakes we’ve made.

But in those moments of uncertainty, God speaks a powerful truth through His name—Yahweh, the great “I AM.”

Yahweh: The Eternal “I AM

In Exodus 3:14, God reveals Himself to Moses with the phrase “I AM WHO I AM.” It’s a name that carries deep meaning: Yahweh, the eternal, self-sufficient, unchanging God. He doesn’t need qualifiers. He just *is*. He is constant, powerful, and always present.

When we take this truth to heart, we can rest in the knowledge that our worth doesn’t come from our performance on the course. It’s not about whether we hit every line, make every putt, or land every throw perfectly. It’s about the fact that God—Yahweh, the “I AM”—is with us. We don’t have to be perfect throwers, always mentally strong, or have every shot dialed in. We don’t have to be *everything* because He *is* everything.

Yahweh is not “I was” or “I will be.” He is the great *I AM*—the present, eternal, ever-powerful God who is here with us, on the course, in every scramble shot, and in every moment of challenge. His presence is constant.

Disc Golf and the Presence of God

When we root our identity in Yahweh, we don’t have to let our performance dictate our worth. Our value isn’t found in our scorecards or our skill set; it’s found in the One who simply *is*. He is the Creator of the universe, the One who called Moses, and the One who calls each of us to walk with Him—not just on the course, but in every aspect of life.

Anchoring Our Identity in Christ on and off the Course

In disc golf, your foundation doesn’t have to shift with every birdie or bogey. Just like Yahweh is unchanging, so too is the foundation of your identity. Whether the wind picks up or the trees seem to have magnets in them, remember: you don’t throw alone. Yahweh, the “I AM,” is with you—guiding, strengthening, and reminding you that your worth is rooted in something far greater than the game itself.

So the next time you find yourself struggling on the course, feeling like you’ve hit a wall, or questioning your abilities, pause and remember: you are not defined by the outcome of your next throw. You are defined by the One who simply *is*. And with Him by your side, you can face whatever challenge comes your way—on or off the course.

TAG you're it!:

• How do you remind yourself that your worth isn’t tied to your performance—whether on the course, at work, or in life? 
• What moments have helped you recognize that God is the ultimate 'I AM' in your journey?

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