What happens when the thing (sport) you've built your identity around starts falling apart? In this episode of the Athlete Disciples Podcast, Christian sits down with University of Iowa pitcher Justin Hackett to talk about faith, identity, adversity, and what it means to compete when your purpose is rooted in Christ instead of your performance. Justin shares his journey from being a highly recruited baseball player in Iowa to turning down the MLB Draft and beginning his college career at TCU. Almost immediately, life stopped going according to plan. His roommate became seriously ill, a relationship ended, multiple grandparents passed away, and changes to his pitching mechanics left him struggling in the sport that had defined so much of his life. Those trials eventually brought Justin to a breaking point—and into a deeper relationship with God. Justin shares how the Lord began dismantling his identity as “just a baseball player,” led him into Christian community, brought him back home to the University of Iowa, and gave him a new mission: using baseball as a platform to share the Gospel and make disciples. Christian and Justin also dive into Joshua 1:6–9, discussing what it really means to be strong and courageous, meditate on God's Word, surrender outcomes, resist worldly temptations, and trust that God is with us wherever we go. They also unpack Justin's simple framework for discipleship: UP — grow in your relationship with God. IN — surround yourself with strong Christian community. OUT — take what God is doing in you and share it with others. Whether you're an athlete struggling with performance, a college student navigating temptation, or someone wondering who you are when the thing you've always done gets taken away, this conversation is a reminder: Your sport is something you do. It isn't who you are. Your identity is in Christ. Scripture: Joshua 1:6–9 Follow Athlete Disciples for more conversations with athletes pursuing Jesus, sharing their testimonies, and making disciples through sport.