It’s October in St. Louis…that often means MLB championship playoffs involving our beloved Cardinals.
Last October, our family turned off our television…no satellite, no cable, not even a digital converter box. So, for us, this year’s baseball playoffs have been experienced through Facebook posts. What a comical way to watch a game…but you never really miss a play because someone always has something to say about everything!
The best game I “read” so far was the sixth game of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals. It was a really intense game. As I watched the comments roll in, I saw fans taking a completely crazy ride on an emotional roller coaster!
The game started with everyone in high spirits, excited at our post-season opportunity. “Go Cards!” “12 in 12!” “World Series bound!” But, then, the team began to falter. One of our pitchers, Chris Carpenter, had a particularly difficult inning; one gentleman from church even declared his “man-crush” on Carpenter officially over. Lol We lost our lead and the comments went from hopeful to fearful, negative, and even vicious. “What’s wrong with you?!” “Oh great. We aren’t gonna win that way!” and “Come on guys! Get your heads out of your…” well, you know…those kinds of comments.
But anyone who follows our team knows we aren’t called the Cardiac Cards for nothing. Just when all hope seems lost, they get a rally going and they’re right back in it. “Yeah! Cardinals rock!” “I knew we could do it!” “I love my Cardinals!”
The Cards pulled out a win that night and became the National League Division Champions, cinching their spot in the National League Champion Series.
As I watched all these comments come across my screen throughout the game, I couldn’t help but be amused. Up one minute and down the next…but the reactions reminded me of something else entirely. It sounded much like the way many of us tend to behave in our faith from time to time.
When things look, in the natural, as if they’re all going to work out, we get excited…extolling the greatness of our God. “How wonderful! How glorious! He is our abundant Provider and Protector!” Then, when we’re in a slump, unable to see how our situation could ever work out, we tend to want to question Him. Our speech can quickly turn from praise to negativity as we ask God where He is and can He hear us?
“If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.” – James 1:5-8 (MSG)
With our human short-sightedness and emotional investment in the outcome of our prayer requests, we often have a hard time recognizing when God is at work. We want to see something to reassure us. But God is especially good at hiding Himself in the details. He also loves to surprise us by doing things in a way that no one expects. So we must remember to remain faithful in those things that we cannot see. Faith, after all, IS the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). We must remain steadfast and full of confidence that God is good, that He hears us, He loves us, and He is working it all out for the good of those who love Him.
Eventhough things may not always turn out the way we want them to, we can rest assured, if we’re praying about the situation properly, they will turn out in the way that is best for all involved.
Now, I don’t know how God feels about baseball, but given our successful history and the fact that our team’s manager, Mike Matheny, is a Christian, I feel, if God has a team that He wants to give favor to…well, we’ve got a pretty good shot at being it! JAnd with that, it’s almost game time…Gotta get on Facebook and see how we do! Go Cards!
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