We’re coming in to the last stretch of the season here and it’s exciting! Every year our goal is to win the World Series, and every year you come short of that is disappointing. That’s never what you want. But God has done so many amazing things in and through our team this year that I don’t have any regrets.
Though this season and our results as a team did not turn out how we had hoped, we have time left to set the tone for next year. Everything we do from here on out is an awesome opportunity to set up next year and the good that is to come. The goal is to finish strong, play as a team, dominate every single day, and be a good example for all the new guys who are now coming up.
Baseball is a long season, there will always be peaks and valleys, good times and bad. With that, your determination will be tested, and your character as well. How you maintain your composure in all these circumstances speaks volumes. Regardless of what happens, we are called to play the role we have been given. We’re striving for one thing — one purpose — and we can’t take our eyes off that.
The same is true in our walks with Christ. Whether good or bad things come, our response should always be the same. We cannot let outside circumstances steal our joy and faith in God. Our eyes must always be focused on Christ, regardless of what happens.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” — Hebrews 12:1-2
Paul, the author of this verse in Hebrews, always had his eyes fixed on Christ. It didn’t matter if he was rejected in the town he went to speak to or not, he finished his race strong.
Whether in baseball or in our faith, we need to stay the course and finish strong. There will be ups and downs and different challenges we face, but we cannot let our eyes stray from the goal we have to win.
— Matthew Boyd, Detroit Tigers 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.
