In the game of baseball, there are three people in play when a batter comes to the plate.
The pitcher – his job is to throw pitches that ultimately send the batter back to the dugout.
The batter – his job is to advance his team.
The umpire – his job is to act as judge between two opponents and to provide fair calls.
There are other components, like the catcher, the coaches, and the cheers from the field, the dugout, and the stands. Sometimes it plays out like this:
Pitch 1 – The pitch is thrown. It’s too high. The batter doesn’t swing.
“Ball,” says the umpire.
“Good eye,” yell the fans.
Pitch 2 – The pitch is thrown. Right down the middle, and the batter watches it cross the plate.
“Strike,” says the umpire.
“That’s not you, kid,” say his teammates. “You’ll get the next one,” cry the fans.
Pitch 3 – Inside pitch.
“Ball”
“Good eye, you got this!”
Pitch 4 – Comes near the corner of the strike zone. Everyone looks to the ump.
“Ball”
That was close! The fans are really cheering now.
Pitch 5 – It’s a good one. The batter loads up and swings with everything he’s got.
“Strike.”
Everyone reacts.
“Full count,” says the umpire.
Full Count and Foul Balls
Now, if you didn’t know much about baseball, you might think this player just has one more shot. If he gets a ball, he walks. If it’s a strike, he’s out. Six pitches total.
But that’s not true.
Pitch 6 – It’s a great pitch, right down the middle. The batter swings and sends the ball far into left field.
“Foul!”
“Way to hang in there, kid! Way to battle!”
Now the batter can have an unlimited number of pitches. As long as he stays in there swinging and making contact with that ball. As long as he keeps on battling.
It’s funny how the nuances of baseball mirror real life.
You’ve got to know when to swing and when to stay still. And in life—just like baseball—there’s no set number of chances. Sometimes, it’s just about hanging in there. If you swing at all the pitches, even the bad ones, you get out real quick. When you step up to the plate, it’s not always win or lose. Sometimes, in this faceoff, you’ll be left battling. And when you keep swinging, you stay in the game.
Life has thrown a lot of curveballs lately—and maybe even a few wild pitches. But here’s what steadies me when I step up to the plate.
1. God is the judge.
When you watch a ball game, you are going to experience a handful (or more!) of bad calls. That man or woman behind the plate is subject to error. Sometimes they are inexperienced, their vision can be limited, and occasionally they are biased.
But God is not that way. He is a perfect judge. He calls it like he sees it, and he sees a lot more than we do.
2. You’ve got to be discerning.
When you stand at the plate and stare down the pitcher, you have to decide whether you’ll swing. You’ve got to make good judgment calls. You’ve got to trust your gut.
Discernment is a crucial part of life. Even though my emotions can cloud my judgment, I’ve learned to pay attention to the quiet conviction God gives when I ask Him for wisdom. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
3. If you think you can hit it, go for it.
Stay in there and keep swinging. You’ll get an unlimited number of pitches if you make contact with the ball–it doesn’t matter if you barely tip it or smack it onto another field.
Are you at the plate today? In a confrontation? Are you wrestling with conflict or forced to engage with an opponent?
Trust God to judge rightly. Evil does not actually prevail.
Ask for wisdom. God promises to provide exactly what you need, right when you need it.
And keep battling.
Cheering for you today, friends.
A Cup That Runs Over 