This week something happened in Major League Baseball that really caught my attention. In a game between the Cleveland Indians and the Cincinnati Reds, a left fielder was throwing in a ball that had just been hit in play. At the same time, the catcher in the bull pen behind him missed a ball that was being thrown to him. That ball (“wrong ball”) entered the field of play at almost the exact same trajectory. The runner rounding third to score at home picked up in his line of sight the “wrong ball,” thinking that he could score at home. Just at that time, the 2nd baseman that had the “right ball” threw it to the third baseman, who tagged the runner out––inning over!That was what we call a lucky or cheap out. Meanwhile the “wrong ball” just lay on the field! If you want to, you can watch the play right HERE…
Holy Cow! So many things happened in that play…just like life! You are running the bases like you are supposed to and then things just appear right out of nowhere. These things sometimes cause our eyes to look at the “wrong ball.” Then, as I have said before (and I can hear you say it…), “It wasn’t supposed to happen that way.” Or, “Life is just not fair!” Or, “Bad things are not supposed to happen to me like that!”
Today, as you read this, I want to encourage to you with some scriptures that really help us through those “Out of Nowhere” moments…
Heb. 12:1&2 “1…Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”
Deut. 31:8, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Matt. 5:44&45, “44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”
Then here is my personal favorite when I am in the middle of an “Out of Nowhere” moment…
Romans 8:28, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”
Interesting to note that the Indians Manager, Terry Francona, was asked if he thought the Reds bull pen did it on purpose. His response was priceless: “No. No. [Shoot], if they were that good, they deserve it.” He should have been complaining, but he took this “Out of Nowhere” moment all in stride.
Heb. 13:13 – 18, “13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. 17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.”