Hitting is one of the toughest things to do in sports. There’s a pitcher who can throw a small ball over 90 mph, changing the ball’s speed and moving it around the plate. You then have to be able to hit the ball hard enough to a spot where the eight fielders don’t have a chance to catch it or scoop it and throw you out. It’s hard to get hits when you have amazing players all over the field who are experts in their positions.
But sometimes teams like to move players over to one side of the field, creating a big open area for the hitter to hit the ball in that direction. This is what hitting coaches mean when they tell young hitters to “take what they give you.” If they’re going to give you a big hole on one side of the field because of a shift, then make an adjustment and hit the ball over there! This opportunity they’re giving you is a gift, if you can take it. Players who can make this adjustment quickly are the ones who tend to move up in the system.
Sometimes in life you can feel like a hitter trying to make everything happen from your own strength, when really there is a free gift on the other side of the field. No matter who you are or where you come from, we all struggle with the difficulties of life. Sometimes our circumstances seem hopeless, but I’m here to tell you God has left a huge opening for you! Just like the opening when a team puts a shift on a hitter — it’s there and waiting for anyone to take.
“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 6:23 (NLT)
Take what God gives you. It doesn’t cost you anything! It cost our God everything to send His Son Jesus to live, die and rise again so that we may be saved. He leaves us with these instructions:
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” —Romans 10:9 (NIV)
That side of the field is wide open for you to take and it’s free for all who want it. My prayer is that you would take advantage of what God is offering to you. When you do, He will direct you into a life of purpose and peace through Him. Then you will find true victory.
— Eddie Taubensee
Eddie Taubensee is the Director of Baseball Ministry for The Increase and a former MLB catcher and a regular contributor of The Increase, providing monthly articles and opinions.
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