You know, despite being only sixteen, I've been through a fair share of life's curve balls! The situations that you don't anticipate and you are always scared of. It is all to often, yet many people consider these curve balls to be punishments. However, they aren't, just new tests to make you stronger as a Christian.
Growing up, I've always played baseball. I loved baseball more than anything (except Jesus, of course!) I'm one of the defensive-minded players. I focus so much on having sound defense with few errors that I completely take for granted how important batting is. Have you ever thought of Christians as every now and then being "defensive-minded?" The defensive-minded Christians tend to worry to much about doing all the right things, saying the right prayers, putting the right amount in the offering plate on Sunday mornings. They mold their life around being perfect in God's eyes and the eyes of those around them.
Fastballs were always the easiest pitches for me to hit, because the ball would remain in a straight line. All I had to worry about was having the right timing. It's the same way with Christians, the simplest things in our lives are the times when we just have to know the right thing to say and when to say it.
For me and my poor batting, I've always been scared of curve balls. They appear to be going in a straight shot the whole way, but when we least expect it, it breaks inward. It always gets me tangled up, throwing my swing out of whack trying to adjust to it. For me, every time the pitch was thrown with two strikes, I'd normally strike out. That fear stayed with me every at bat, I was so scared I was going to have to feel the shame that follows a strike out.
Life isn't always like a fastball, every now and again you'll get the dreaded curve ball. Those moments where a difficult situation comes your way, and everything you learned completely leaves your train of thought. Sometimes you will strike out, it's a fact of life, but the humility we suffer is what makes us stronger in our faith. We understand the pain, but yet we try to capitalize on our mistakes.
A quote I'm reminded of as I talk about this means so much to me. "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game!" The fear can scare you so bad, you are tempted to quit, to say enough is enough. Major League baseball players have all experienced a strike out, but the reason they have made it so far is they had to make a choice, stick it out or give it up!
Today, if you are facing a curve ball in your life, I urge you to never give up. God will always grant you the strength overcome any obstacle in your path. His love and His mercy is everlasting and never-failing. Philippians 4:13 says it best, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." That includes hitting the once feared curve ball in life!
