If you know our family very well at all, you know that we love our Texas Rangers baseball! Reagan grew up watching and listening to the Rangers play and following all the different players. I also grew up watching the Rangers with my family and my grandfather was a die-hard fan. He and my grandmother would go to bed each night listening to the game on their clock radio. We love our Rangers!!
The past two years have been good for the Rangers- two trips to the games "Holy Grail" aka. the World Series. It seemed as though we were floating on a baseball high as the reigning American League Champs and on top of our division for almost the entire season. Sadly, over the last two weeks, things began to crumble and they fell to the Oakland A's to see a 3rd division championship slip through their fingers. Then, just 2 days later they lost to the Orioles and our season ended.... just like that.
For most Rangers fans, this has been heartbreaking. It just wasn't suppose to end like this. We had already envisioned a return to the big stage of baseball to catch that allusive World Series Title. We could almost taste all the fall ball excitement and games. How did it all go so wrong so fast? When did the foundation begin to crumble?
I know that this is just baseball.... but, I think we have all been there in life. Times when suddenly it seems that the whole world has fallen a part and you just can't seem to grasp where things went wrong. Questions, hurt, disappointment, and anger abound as the process of healing begins. We have been there- many different situations and different times in our life- and it is a hard journey. While the steps are challenging and many times stretch us spiritually- I have had some of the greatest spiritual growth as a result of those journeys.
God is always with us in those difficult times and He is loving and growing us through the process into a deeper maturity and faith in Him. Barbara Johnson once said, "The difference between winning and losing is how we choose to react to disappointment." (Once a Day, Everyday) There is such a profound truth in that statement. In the middle of our discouragement, do we turn to the Father and seek after Him? I know my human nature tends to want to share my heartache and hurt with others who are sympathetic to my situation. There is nothing wrong with that, but I need to make sure that I am spending more time in prayer to my Father over it. The hard truth is that my friends can be sympathetic and pray, but only God can initiate change- change in me and change for me. Plus, God is always there for us..... at any moment when you are at your weakest, God is there. "On the darkest day of your life, God is still in charge. Take comfort in that." said Marie T. Freeman. (Once a Day, Everyday)
"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 4:19 NLT
"Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him and he will help you." Psalm 37:3-5 NLT
While in the fog of disappointment, seek after Him- God- Christ and let Him guide you through the unknowns ahead trusting that He is capable of meeting every need you have along the way. When you focus on Him, it becomes easier to take the next few feeble steps knowing He is there to catch you and as our eyes focus on Him our heart conforms to His. Suddenly, wants and wishes of the past are not our heart's desire because we have conformed to His heart and perspective and we see that God has more for us. My friend, if you are stuck in the heavy fog of a life disappointment, and you are seeking - ever so desperately- for direction, for comfort, for guidance..... look no farther than the nail scarred hand reaching out for yours.
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