Caleb Hibbard
Caleb Hibbard, a freshman playing varsity hockey at Milton High School (VT), grew up with the freedom to choose his path to faith. While busy with sports, classes, and all that life entails, he began to wonder if there was something more to life.
Q&A with Caleb Hibbard
How did you come to know God? I haven’t always been a Christian. My mom was Catholic, but she wasn’t going to force any religion on us. Looking back, I think about King Solomon, who had everything, but something was missing. I realized what was missing for me was God. That realization crept in over time. I eventually told my sister Paige I wanted to get into reading and asked her for a Bible.
What happened when you got that Bible? I started studying it and then downloaded Bible apps to deepen and strengthen my faith. That’s what I’ve been doing the last couple of years.
How has your relationship with God helped you grow more into the person you want to be? Ever since I gave my life to God, I’ve become kinder and cared more about people. It’s changed my viewpoint, especially when it comes to judging people; I remember that I don’t know their whole story or what they might be going through.
I’ve gone through a lot of trials, and I’ve blamed God. I’ve come to understand that just because you’ve got God in your boat doesn’t mean you’re not going to go through storms, but He’s not going to let your boat sink.
Do you have a Bible verse that’s really speaking to you right now? Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” I know that wherever I am or whatever situation I’m in, this verse reassures me that God is there and is willing to listen to me and carry my burdens.
How has your relationship with God impacted your life as an athlete? Hockey can be a very aggressive and verbal sport. There’s a lot of chirping, and people can be mean on the ice. Someone hit me in a game and called me something really mean. Today’s society is a “hit me, and I’ll hit you harder” society. The Bible says no to that. It reminds me of the verse about turning the other cheek. I responded to him with “Jesus loves you,” and he said nothing to me after that.
How do you want to grow in your relationship with God? I struggle to talk about my faith—sometimes I struggle with social stuff and the judgment of other people. I know the only judgment I should fear is God’s. I’ve seen people preaching on the streets with a microphone, and I want to be one of those guys. I want to see myself not being afraid of what others think of me, and I want to preach the truth.
