Our Sunday baseball chapel has been going through the book of James recently. Our study has brought us to really dig in and search for answers in Scripture, instead of trying to run from the truth. Last week we studied James 4, focusing on not being double-minded, but allowing people to get to know you.
This can be hard for a professional athlete; it’s just a struggle that tends to come with the territory of this career. Many people may perceive a player in one light when it may not be true at all. And changing people’s perceptions can be really hard, and almost impossible to do entirely, but by the way you choose to live your life — through your actions and words — you can show them a different reality.
It takes more than one athlete to change a stereotype of the sport’s community. As Christian ball players, that’s what we try to do. Naturally, we have guards we put up when it comes to other people. Again, that tends to come with the territory of pro baseball. There are always people who want to get something from you, but that’s not always the case.
It’s been really helpful for me to watch the older guys in the league and see how they handle different situations that come. You want to be loving, polite, and a good witness of Christ’s character to others, while not being taken advantage of. I find myself wanting to help out and serve everyone, but sometimes you just can’t do it all.
People can and will hurt you when you open up to them. Not always, but it will happen if you allow yourself to be vulnerable with others. However, just like in the game of baseball, or any other area of life, we need to learn to rely first and fully on God. We can rest in the forgiveness and comfort He offers us, and then offer that both to ourselves and to others as well. Seek Him and allow Him to guide you through whatever situation you are going through. Learn to flush down the little, insignificant things and choose to learn from them.
James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Let the testing of your faith work in you and come back stronger from it. There’s a bigger purpose in the struggle and God will carry you through.
— Luke Weaver, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher
The Increase, part of the Sports Spectrum Network, is a community of Christian pro athletes sharing their personal stories of the decrease of self and the increase of Christ (John 3:30). Visit TheIncrease.com for more stories and videos.
