As a hitter, the goal is to determine what pitch is being thrown to you and hit it hard. Knowing your count gives you a hint of what's coming. For example, first pitches are usually fastballs, and 1-2 counts are usually off-speed pitches. In any situation, the pitcher has the choice of what to throw and doesn't have to follow the norms. What happens if you're expecting a fastball and he throws you a curve? Hopefully you have prepared for different pitches during batting practice and tee work, but there will always be times where the pitcher will catch you by surprise. Your first expectation should always be fastball, and you have several options when a curve is thrown. You can get fooled and watch it go by for a strike, you can get fooled and have a bad swing, or you can recognize it, wait back, and drive it to the outfield. Your reaction depends on your preparation during the off-season, pregame, and even in the on-deck circle.
In life, we are thrown many "curve-balls" otherwise known as trials. Like in baseball, the curve-balls of life are inevitable. Also, we can choose how we react to them. Trials can be testimony builders, but they can also be testimony breakers. The good thing is that it's our choice how they effect us. We may have a loved one pass away or be diagnosed with a terminal illness, but we can always be happy in the midst of these trials. We believe that trials come because of various reasons. They can come because of sin and consequence, or they can come because of the nature of mortality. Either way, they can have a positive or negative influence on our lives. The great thing is, it's OUR CHOICE.
So how do we prepare for the curve-balls of life? Is it possible to prepare to get fired from your job when you thought things were going so well? Is it possible to be happy when an auto-immune disease takes over your body in a matter of months? How do you bounce back when a surgery isn't successful and you lose an immediate family member? One answer to these questions is found in Alma 7:11-12. "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." Jesus Christ knows how to succor his people because he has experienced every pain, temptation, sickness, betrayal, etc. In other words, He experienced and conquered every curve-ball that Satan had to throw at Him. No other man has been persecuted as much as He was, and yet He still lived a perfect life. He understands you perfectly, and knows how to comfort you perfectly.
Another way to be prepared for these curve-balls is to set aside time each day for a heart to heart talk with our Father in Heaven. Consistent, sincere prayers will allow you to get to know Him more. Also, we can get to know Jesus Christ through sincere scripture study. I have learned that it's not enough to "just read one chapter everyday." Even though it's a good place to start, I believe that it's much more than that. The biggest problem is the mentality. Instead of thinking "one chapter everyday" let's instead have the thought of getting to know the scriptures better everyday. When the goal is to just read one chapter today, we think about getting it done quickly so we can get back to what we were doing. In doing so, we cut ourselves off from personal revelation that God is anxious to give us. We must dedicate time to Him in prayer and in scripture study so we can conquer and learn from the trials that come from Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment