When BYU women’s golfer Berlin Long began experiencing sharp nerve pain in her back and numbness running down her arm last fall, she didn’t know the next few months would become one of the most defining spiritual experiences of her life.
The injury caused by overuse and a pinched nerve near her right scapula forced her to sit out for 12 weeks and ultimately take a redshirt year.
Today, healthy and back competing, Long says the break strengthened her faith more than anything else she’s faced in golf.
Long’s symptoms escalated quickly. The repetitive motion of her swing led to nerve-pinching, creating pain and carpal-tunnel-like numbness in her back and arm.
After meeting with several specialists, the diagnosis was clear: she needed complete rest.
“The only thing I could do to fix it was not play golf,” she said. “My back and arm were going numb and the nerve doctor told me I had to stop."
For an athlete who had played year-round for as long as she could remember, that prescription felt impossible. From September to November, Long didn’t swing a club once.
“Since I started golf, that was the longest break I’ve ever taken,” she said.
At first, the time away felt like a crisis. She had entered the season with high hopes and losing a year of eligibility was painful.
“I was really upset,” she said. “I had big expectations and having to sit out was hard."
But the forced pause soon shifted into a moment where her faith took control.
Long said she felt God was trying to get her attention.
“It was definitely God being like, ‘It’s not that big a deal, just take a step back,’” she said. “It helped me trust God’s plan."
As the season moved on without her, Long turned to prayer, trying to understand why the setback had come at such a pivotal moment in her career.
“I prayed a lot asking, ‘Why is this happening?’” she said. “I didn’t know a lot of things, but He did. So much good came out of it."
The break became a spiritual reset as much as a physical one. Golf had always demanded constant attention, constant reps, and constant pressure. Without competition or qualifying rounds, she had space to breathe and to listen.
“Sitting out was such a blessing for my mental health,” she said. “It helped me realize there’s so much more to life than just golf."
Her sister and teammate, Aadyn Long, described the experience as a turning point for Berlin, who has always been a perfectionist. Having no control over her situation forced her to rely on something bigger than herself.
“It was the best thing for her ultimately,” she said.
By the time Berlin Long was cleared to return, her mindset had completely shifted. She felt excitement to compete, but she also carried a deeper sense of peace rooted in God.
“Looking back, it was the best thing for me,” she said. “God really does know what He’s doing."
Now fully healthy and playing in the remainder of her BYU career, Long says her game is stronger than ever. But more importantly, so is her faith.
"After stepping away, my game is in a better place than it’s ever been,” she said. “My testimony is stronger because of it. Relying on Him through all of it changed me."