Bottom of the Ninth #2 - From Failure to Freedom

by Keith Wahl

Have you ever made an error on the baseball field? Struck out? Walked a batter? Chances are you've done all three. Even the best in the game are not immune from the most embarrassing of moments.

Baseball is viewed as a "game of failure" and everyone experiences that on some level or another. Thankfully, there is a truth presented in the Bible that allows a baseball player to deal with failure.

Jesus wants our worst so we can be our best.

Let that sink in for a minute.

All of our sins, all of our mistakes, all of our failures - Jesus wants to shoulder those burdens so we can be free to do our best. Instead of being bound by all of those sins, mistakes, and failures, Jesus cuts us from those chains that hold us back from doing our best.

Chris Tomlin's song, "No Chains On Me" does sum it up well:

Like a rolling stone, like a runaway train
No turning back, no more yesterdays
My heart is free, no chains on me

God, You raise me up, up from the grave
With the cross before, I'm on my way
My heart is free, no chains on me

Hang on a minute. I'm supposed to play the game of baseball with this kind of freedom? What about that ball I just booted to let two runs score? That time I walked the bases loaded? That day I struck out looking to lose the game?

Jesus wants our worst so we can be our best.

Give those mistakes over to Jesus and learn how to do that quickly. Everyone talks about how baseball is a game of failure, but maybe that verbiage is wrong. Baseball is a game where we have an opportunity to learn how to overcome failure. We shouldn't be giving in to the failure but seeking to overcome that failure by giving our failures to Jesus.

Jesus wants our worst so we can be our best.

Yes, this can feel like an oversimplification and lead to a tough question - how? How exactly am I supposed to give my failure to Jesus? It starts by forgiving yourself for the mistake and avoiding the shame cycle. The God of the Universe already has. Psalm 103:12 teaches us that our mistakes, our sins, are "as far as the east is from the west." Admit your mistake, find forgiveness, and unhitch the chains. Show mercy to those who make mistakes and watch how you will also have a short account with your failures.

Jesus wants our worst so we can be our best.

When you come to this understanding, what can you do but seek to give your life and all glory to Him?