WRITTEN BY TIM LABRECHE
This past Memorial Day weekend, we sat amongst thousands of other Detroit Tigers fans at Comerica Park in downtown Detroit. Growing up in southeast Michigan, I grew up hearing stories of Tiger royalty like George Kell, Al Kaline, and going back even further, the great Ty Cobb. I went to Tiger Stadium to watch players who are now legends, like Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammel, and Jack Morris, hit, pitch, and catch the ball on many beautiful summer afternoons.
This Sunday afternoon was no different. We went with family to watch the Tigers face off against the Chicago White Sox. We were surrounded by the uniqueness of the ballpark. More people were proudly displaying their Tigers apparel than those who weren’t. There were vendors walking up and down the aisles, selling hot dogs and cold beverages. Singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” with thousands of other fans is a classic 7th-inning stretch tradition that will never get old.
This game was probably one of the best games I’ve been too… ever. We were in the left-field seats about halfway up. In the bottom of the third inning, we were at bat, down by one, and had the bases loaded, and then… KRAK!!! Akil Baddoo hit one over the right field wall. It was a Grand Slam! The stadium erupted. Popcorn flew in the air. High fives were given to complete strangers. It was an instantaneous exclamation of joy undoubtedly heard outside the stadium walls. The Tigers now led 4-1.
A couple of more innings go by.
Swing and a miss.
Base hit.
Pop fly.
Then there was another exciting inning, but not for Tiger fans. The Sox had gotten four runs in the top of the 7th inning and now had the lead. Unfortunately, the crowd wasn’t as loud and energetic. Some were discouraged, and some were most likely doubting if a win would even come. It seemed as if many fans had lost sight of the excitement and energy of the grand slam just a few innings ago.
In the bottom of the 9th inning, we scored again to tie the game and take it into extra innings. The Sox were not able to score in their time at bat, and the Tigers were up to bat, and sure enough, we scored and won the game! The stadium again erupted in cheers and applause as everyone went home excited that their home team was victorious.
As we drove home from the game, the Holy Spirit showed me that we are often like the crowd. When those ‘grand slams’ happen in our lives, like being healed from a devastating sickness or the indescribable joy of finding out you’re pregnant after trying and trying so many times with discouraging results, it’s often easy to remember that God is for us and walks with us through whatever we’re going through. But we can also be like the crowd after a few innings of not experiencing those grand slams. We can quickly get discouraged and doubt whether God is with us or on our side.
Romans 8:35-39 reads,
35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I love what verse 37 says. It says that even if we faint from hunger, being mistreated or punished, and even without a penny to our name, we will be victorious. But not just victorious. It says that overwhelming victory is ours through Christ! The encouragement continues in verses 38 and 39 when it says that nothing can or will separate us from God’s love for us.
Has it been a while since you’ve experienced an encouraging home run or even a base hit? Don’t lose hope. He hasn’t forgotten about you. Keep swinging the bat and press into Him through prayer and His Holy Word. Ask Him for a fresh perspective on every situation you find yourself in.
Victory is yours!
