“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24-25 (CSB)
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Oklahoma softball senior Jayda Coleman’s opposite-field walk-off home run was one of the most electrifying moments in sports so far in 2024. This wasn’t just any game-winning hit — it clinched a spot for Oklahoma in its fourth consecutive Women’s College World Series Finals.
However, what made this moment truly special was what happened right before she stepped to the plate. With the game tied 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Coleman prepared to lead off the extra inning while the Florida Gators settled into their positions. Then, a powerful moment unfolded as fellow senior Alyssa Brito prayed with Coleman just before she entered the batter’s box.
The two teammates stood together in unity before their Jesus and added an extraordinary layer of depth to an already unforgettable moment. In the middle of an extremely high-pressure situation with huge implications for their future, the first response by these players was to join together in prayer.
In the postgame press conference, Coleman revealed their conversation. “And Brito, you know, she slowed me down, and she prayed over me. And she was just like, ‘Surrender it all. Don’t try to control anything. Just go for it.’ No matter what, I’m not justified by whatever the at-bat is. So even though I hit a home run, Jesus loves me. If I would’ve struck out, Jesus still loves me. I think that just really just put me into my foundation.”
Wow. What a powerful lesson that moment can teach us as believers. No matter what happens, Jesus loves us. Whether we hit the game-winning shot or strike out looking. Regardless of our performance, the score or the stat line. Regardless of our social status, income bracket or appearance.
And because of that perfect love He has lavished on us, we can freely surrender it all to Him. He alone is our firm foundation and our constant source of power. In Him, we are steady, grounded and rooted. Storms will come and winds may pound our lives, but when we build our lives on Jesus and live for Him, He is our unshakable foundation.
He will never let us down. He is faithful, and His goodness pursues us. We don’t have to have it all together. We can be secure in the present, even if we don’t know what the future holds.
Just surrender.
— Melissa Motes
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