Do you see the batter?

He’s at home base, his foot scraping across the dust-covered white plate. Bits of powdery white lime, the substance used to mark fair and foul, and airy, brownish-orange dust mingle up into the air.

Tapping his cleats, two – maybe three – times on the base, he then bangs his left foot against the bat. A loud, clanging metal noise rushes into the air.

Then, raising his arm and locking his knees, the batter’s body stiffens in a confident, wide, victor’s stance. His finger finds and points to a space in the stands well beyond the outfield fence.

A roar rises from the crowd.

It’s his.

He’s calling his mark.

He’s declaring a homerun.

“Play ball!” the umpire bellows. And they do.

 

We’re not unlike that batter.

Each day of life is like a ballgame. You and I are the batters, teammates on Team Jesus.

Standing at homeplate with bat in hand, our brows often furrow due to discouragement’s pitch. After all, who likes to play an inning with discouragement on the mound? Life’s going well, them wham! Discouragement hits. We didn’t see it coming. Its curve took us by surprise.

 

 

I’m hitting the threads off discouragement this round at bat.

We targeted the barrage of discourging thoughts recently in this post. It’s been a battle for me.

But God is changing that.

 

He’s nudging that it’s time to hit discouragement’s pitch out of the park with a Holy Spirit swing. Are you ready?

 

Hit discouragement out of the park with a Holy Spirit swing. Click To Tweet

 

Curveballs, when pitched, seem to head in one direction, but then they curve.

We swing.

Then miss.

We sulk. (Well ~ I do. Maybe you don’t. If so, good for you. But for the sulkers of us, there’s more.)

Then we sit down in discouragement.

 

Take me out of the ballgame, Coach.

Why bother?

I can’t hit anything.

Blah, blah, blah…

 

So we sit down on the base, retreat into our own, little discouraged world, and, like a youngster trying on their ballgame skills for the first time, we doodle in the dust.

The game isn’t going to go well at this rate, is it?

If we want a different outcome, an eternally-focused homerun, we’ll have to set dust-doodling aside.

 

Here’s one help to prepare a batter after discouragement’s curveball.

 

Tell a friend.

 

You won’t be a bother. It is important enough. And no, you’re not sounding like a broken record.

 

Tell a friend.

 

But be selective.

Tell a Jesus-lover who will be intentional with scripture and prayer, one who will help you kneel at the feet of Jesus. Select a friend who will challenge you, offering annointed words that are the Hur to your Moses, the hand-holding Aaron so desperately needed to hit the ball out of the park.

 

Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. EX 17:12-13 NLT

 

Who is your Aaron in the battle against discouragement? Click To Tweet

 

These next words were a “Hur” to my own “Moses”.  Discouragement was the battle, but “telling a friend” refocused my eyes on eternity. Today, these words are for you.

Hold fast and fight strong, friend. God is greater and you are precious, prized, and loved…the Lord has reminded me that the devil doesn’t try and steal that which is worthless. He wants that which is of great value to the kingdom…and that is you!! Satan doesn’t get to steal what God is asking you to pursue, so open your front door and tell him he doesn’t get to take your identity and worth…then kick him out in Jesus name!!! ~ Tiffany Parry

That voice of discouragement is the enemy! He wants us to doubt. ~ Kristine Brown

The enemy wants to use anything possible to discourage. ~ Betsy DeCruz

That prowling lion doesn’t try to steal what’s worthless. You are encouraging others in Jesus’ name and that’s priceless. Press on, dear friend! ~ Abby McDonald

…we have an enemy of our souls who wants to snuff out the praise and Truth of God. Praying God lifts your head… ~ Lisa Appelo

 

So my friend, step up to the plate with your Jesus-confident stance.

As Deut. 31:6 says, Be strong and courageous….

Point toward eternity and call it over the fence with confidence – for Team Jesus.

“Play ball!”

 

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Did you know?

#YourStory testimonies are posted here every 1st Tuesday of the month. Writers and regular folks just like you and me share how our amazing God touched their life in very raw and real ways. It’s encouragement unwrapped…just for you!

Past #YourStory testimonies can be found here. 

 

Linking with Intentionally Pursuing, Purposeful Faith, Holly Barrett, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Holley Gerth, #w2wwordfilledwednesday, Thought-Provoking Thursday & Grace & Truth.