Fruit of the Spirit Pt. 2 - Week 6, Day 3

Day 3: We Win (Don't Give Up)

It was an unusually hot summer day. The sun was melting its way down to the earth devouring whatever it touched. I was a Student Pastor at a church and I had taken my student ministry to this incredible camp. At the camp, they had a softball tournament that they allowed the Student Pastor to play in... so I’m getting some of my guys together to play in a softball tournament. Now, this softball tournament involved 20-30 different churches from Arkansas and one lone wolf from mighty Missouri....us. Needless to say, we didn't think we had much of a chance of winning.

We walked out of the cabin and headed for the softball field. The scent of deodorant filled the air because we knew that on this day we'd need all the protection available to man. We began to warm our arms up and finally, our game was next. The tension was high in the air and our stomachs churned with anticipation as the first pitch was thrown. Could we pull it off? Could we win it all? We had to force ourselves not to think about the next game, and to simply play one team at a time with no knowledge of what was ahead. We told ourselves that we must concentrate like never before. Keep our head in the game, and keep our focus.

In the first game of the tourney, we almost lost. We were down 1-0 with one out, a man on second, and third. Crack went the bat, and the ball went sailing bringing in the two winning runs that we needed. We moved on in our tourney bracket. The sun got hotter and the anticipation grew as one game after another was won: 6-2, 12-1, 8-2, and so on.

Finally, 5 hot games and 50 gallons of Gatorade later, we walked onto the field of the championship game. Both teams were 5-0 to this point. The winner would walk away as champion, and the loser would fall in line with all the other defeated teams. The game would only last 3 innings. Three of the longest and hardest-fought innings of softball that I had ever been a part of.

The other team was huge. To me, they looked unbeatable as they knocked out hit, after hit, after hit, against their challengers. We were tired, exhausted, and more than a little nervous. Could we pull this puppy dog off?

The coin toss took place at home plate. Up went the coin. We called heads and won the toss. I thought to myself, "At least we won something today." We elected to be the home team, and so we set out to take the field first and bat last (for those of you who know nothing about the game of softball).

The first inning came and went in a blur. The second did the same. At the top of the final inning, we were winning by one run. (The score was 3-2). They came at us with everything they had and for a while, we didn't think the shelling would ever stop. When the dust finally cleared and the third out was finally called, we were behind 5-3. Now that might not seem like a whole lot to you, but when you're down and out it seems like a lot.

We walked into the dugout kind of shell shocked from what had just taken place. I looked at each face, and it was as if each person was saying, "Todd, we gave it our best shot and we can't pull it off." Have you ever felt that way? It's as if all the odds are riding against you and everyone is betting that you are going to fall flat on your face. I've felt this way many times in my life. Spiritually speaking it seems like there is always something in my life that is messed up, and I get to the point I'm about to give up. Are you about ready to give up too? Well, we were.

I looked at the guys with sweat pouring down my face and said, "Guys, all we need is base hits. We've come too far. Let's not give up yet." The words weren't that awesome. It wasn't a speech that will forever be on the minds of the guys that were in that dugout. It was a little bit of encouragement that was needed in a discouraging situation.

We got up to bat. The first man up hits a line-drive single. All right, we can do it. The second man up shot to the shortstop. The shortstop grabs the ball and throws the man from first out at second. A member of the opposite team screams out. “One out...two to go!”

The third man goes up to the plate. Whack...a sharp shot into the outfield. The man on first goes to third. Now we have men on first and third with one out. The next man up to bat was a kid named Jason Moss. He lets one pitch go by and then WHAM BOOM BAM KISS YOUR MOMMA GOOOOOOOODDDBBBYYYYYEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! The ball game is over. A three-run home run. We win. We win!!!!! I can't believe it. We win!!!! I will never forget that moment in time.

A lot of you guys feel like you're in the final inning. You have one out on you with only two more to go. You're ready to throw in the towel because you just can't take it anymore. Let me give you a little encouragement. Don't give up. I mean it. I don't care what the situation is. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING THAT YOU AND GOD CAN'T TAKE CARE OF. I PROMISE!

So what. You blew it again. Shake it off and get back on track. Don't sit back on the bench like there is no hope. Get up to bat again. You might be as surprised as Jason Moss was when you hit your home run in life. It will be a day you will never forget. DON’T GIVE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time Out.

Read I Kings chapters 18-19. What happens to Elijah in chapter 19?

What did the Lord tell Elijah about giving up and feeling alone?

What situation has got you down in your life right now?

Have you talked to God about it?