During a recent appearance on the “Sports Spectrum” podcast, an ESPN reporter named Kayla Burton opened up about how her Christian faith, speaking about how it helped lift and guide her through the difficult seasons in her life and career. Burton, as background, is a college football sideline reporter who joined ESPN in August of 2023 after previously working for NFL Media.
Particularly, during the Sports Spectrum podcast appearance, Burton was asked what she did when dealing with career setbacks, namely if there was anything on which she had to hold as she tried to make it through those dark days. As could be expected given her appearance was on the Christian podcast, she said that her Christian faith and the Lord above helped her out.
She said, responding to the question about what she held onto when struggling in her career, “The Lord.” Elaborating, she added, “When you are going through life and when you see—whether you make a mistake or you’re succeeding or you’re seeing others around you who are taking off sooner and you want to be where they are—it’s so easy to compare and not be content with where we’re at.”
Continuing, she added that though periods in her life and career disappointed her, the “constant” of God helped her out. She said, “I’ve been through those chapters, and I’ve been disappointed…The only constant in my life has been God.”
Building on that, she added that ups and downs are only ever temporary, saying, “I’ve learned that a season is temporary. So no matter what you’re going through, you’re going to get to the other side if you believe that and put in the effort and have that faith.” Then, crediting God for her success, she said, “[My success] had nothing to do with me. It had everything to do with where He put me and that faith I had in Him.”
Then she said that she remembers in the midst of great success to keep praying and thanking God, saying, “When things are going great, don’t forget who carried me along the way. That’s something that I’m still working through and still trying to attain every single day.”
This isn’t the first time Burton has spoken about her faith. In a January of 2024 post on Instagram, she commented on covering the Citrus Bowl for ESPN just a year after having watched it from the stands, quoting the Bible as she did so, saying, “This exact day last year, at the very same place, I was in the stands. This time was a little different. #Humbled #HappyNewYear •• ‘For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper, not to harm, plans to give you a hope and a future.’ – Jeremiah 29:11” In another post on Instagram, she said, “I’m only here because of His grace,” referring to God.
Featured image credit: Kayla Burton Instagram