HOLLY POND, Ala. — Holly Pond’s Madison Butts will be a junior in August, and in this interview, she discusses her faith, and how much God has helped her during some tough times in her life.
“God means everything to me. He is the source of guidance and strength in my life. He is the foundation which I build my values, my daily actions, and my understanding of the world. God’s presence is a constant reminder that I’m never alone. He is always there by my side. He gives me comfort in hard times and happiness in the easy ones. Believing in Him has shaped me into the person I am today. I look to Him in everything I do, constantly asking myself, ‘Is this what God would want me to do’? This encourages me to treat others with kindness and respect, while also encouraging me to be a better version of myself every day. My faith in Him is not just a religion, but a personal relationship,” Madison said. “My legs have been a huge setback during my basketball career and have affected me a lot. The constant pain is like nothing else. When I first found out about what was wrong, I constantly prayed, and I went through many doctor’s visits and surgeries. The recovery was quite long. All I wanted to do was play the sport I love. I believe God has a reason for everything. Although I did have the surgeries, I am still experiencing the same pain. I ask God, why? But once I sit down and think, this may be painful, but He is making me stronger. I have to push past the pain if I want to play. Through all of this, I leaned on God a lot. He helped me to stay strong and focus on getting better. He is the reason I am where I am today. I am so thankful for Him and the ability He gave me to play.”
Madison has a lot of Bible verses that she leans on, no matter what she is going through in her life.
“One of my favorite Bible verses is Philippians 4:13: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’. This verse reminds me that with faith and reliance on God, that I can overcome any challenge and push past whatever obstacles I come across to achieve my goals. Another one is Isaiah 40:31: ‘But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint’. This verse gives encouragement during the tough times, promising renewed strength and endurance if you trust in God. My final favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11-13: ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray for me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart’. This verse reassures me that God has a plan for your life, promising a future filled with hope. It also encourages you to seek God through prayer, and when you wholeheartedly seek Him, you will find Him and receive His guidance.”
She wants to play a part in helping people of all ages find God, and she also wants to be a role model for kids, on and off the court.
“It means a lot to me to help others find God. I love to help others if they have questions or want to become closer. I want to be a role model for people of all ages. Psalm 14:1 says, ‘They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good’. In this psalm, King David describes the futility of life without God. We’re aimless wanderers, lost like sheep without a shepherd. Worse than that, we’re blind, without vision, guidance, or direction. Without God, everything seems meaningless. He brings so much light into my life, and I would love to help others feel the same,” Butts said. “It means a lot to me to be that role model for the kids, not only on the court, but off of it as well. If any of the kids need somebody, they can always come to me if they want to get closer to God, but not only that, if they need guidance, I would love to be that person for them. It means so much to me that they look up to me and that constantly pushes me to be a better version of myself for them.”
Madison is a coach for one of the youth girls’ basketball teams and doing that has been a rewarding experience. She has so many Godly role models in her life that has helped her become the person that she is today.
“A lot of the younger girls look up to me. I love helping them gain confidence in their ability to play and learning more about the sport, giving them somebody they can come to when they have questions,” she said. “My Godly role models in my life are my mom, my friends Madalan, Lexi, and Maggie, and Madalan’s parents. They mean a lot to me. They are the most important people in my life. They make me a better person. I truly don’t know what I would do without them.”
Butts shared some advice with anyone who wants a relationship with God but might be new to the experience. She talked about a Godly ritual that she does by herself and with her team before games, and what she has learned during her journey so far.
“My advice would be to reach out to friends who go to church and go with them. Read the Bible and take notes when you’re reading to understand the Word better and reach out to somebody to ask questions if you have any. Pray and ask God for guidance. If anyone has any questions or needs help being led towards God, I would love to help them,” she said. “Before games, I pray individually, and as a team, we cross hands with one another, often taking turns praying before every game. I’ve learned that God is good, and He loves you, no matter what, so lean on Him. He is always with you.”
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