When Life Throws You a Curve Ball

                Last night was the MLB All-star game. It was quite a good game from the American league point of view. The American League pitchers had the upper hand limiting the National League to 3 hits and no runs. On the other side, the American League hitters had the upper hand on the National League pitchers. They knocked out 9 hits, 4 doubles, a triple and 3 runs.

                The bread and butter of pitching is the fastball. The idea is to throw the ball as hard as you can and get it by the batter. Of course location is very important. No matter how hard you throw, if it is straight down the middle of the plate major league batters will hit the ball, and often put it into the seats for a home run. So pitchers mix their pitches up. They will throw several fast balls and then throw a curve. The curve often catches the batter off guard, resulting in a strike out or a weak hit resulting in an out.

                Life is full of fastball experiences. These are straight forward challenges that are hard, but we can usually handle them. Then, periodically, life will throw us a curveball. Those experiences take us by surprise and throw us off balance. A person seems to be the picture of health and then they have a heart attack. A person goes to the doctor for what they think is a routine check-up and discovers they have cancer. A young worker, wanting to be helpful, is taken advantage of by a co-worker, resulting in the loss of his job. As in baseball, the key in life is learning to adjust to the curveballs that come our way.

                The Bible gives us a prime example of someone who faced his share of curveballs. His name was Joseph. Joseph was the second youngest of Jacob’s sons and was his father’s favorite. The first curve that he faced was when his father singled him out from his brothers. Jacob gave Joseph a fancy coat that was obviously not meant for manual labor. The coat symbolized a privileged position in the family and did not sit well with the brothers. Joseph didn’t handle that curve very well. There is an indication that Joseph got caught up in youthful arrogance. This was confirmed when he had some amazing dreams, and instead of keeping quiet, he broadcast them to the rest of the family.

                The first curve ball set Joseph up for the second one. This time he didn’t even see it coming. Jacob sent Joseph out to check on his brothers. When they saw he approaching, their resentment for Joseph erupted and they plotted to get rid of him. Their first thought was to just kill him and blame it on wild animals. Reuben stepped in and convinced the others not to take Joseph’s life. Instead they threw him into a cistern. Reuben intended to rescue Joseph later. While Reuben was absent, a caravan came by and Judah hit upon an idea. Instead of killing Joseph, let’s sell him and get some gain from it. That was what they did. When Reuben returned and discovered what they had done he was overwrought.

                Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar. For a time, Joseph saw only fastballs, which he routinely hit out of the park. He was so good at what he did that Potiphar put him in charge of his whole household. Then the next curveball came. It came from the hands of Potiphar’s wife, who took a shine to Joseph. She tried to entice Joseph into a romantic liaison, but Joseph refused. It looked like he was doing a good job fouling off he pitches, but she was persistent. When she finally realized that she wasn’t going to get her way, she accused Joseph of seducing her, which landed Joseph in jail.

                While in jail, Joseph kept hitting home runs. Again, he proved himself valuable and was promoted to a position of authority in the jail. While there, he met two servants of the king, each who had a disturbing dream. Joseph was able to interpret their dreams. He asked the king’s cupbearer to remember him and put in a good word for him with the King, the cupbearer forgot. Another curveball.

                Later the king had a disturbing dream that none of his advisors could figure out. It was then that the cupbearer remembered Joseph. Joseph was able to interpret the dream and the king rewarded him with great authority.

                When the famine that Joseph had predicted came to be, his brothers came to Egypt in search of food. This time it was Joseph’s turn to throw a few curveballs. He kept his identity a secret from his brothers. He treated then harshly in his presence, but instructed his servant to return their money with their food. Joseph threw another curveball, imprisoning Simeon and demanding that they bring Benjamin back with them.

                On their second visit, they did bring Benjamin and Joseph tried to throw one more curveball, but he could not. He was overwhelmed by the sight of his younger brother and confessed his true identity to the group. In fear for their lives, they pleaded with Joseph, but Joseph was finished playing games. After Jacob was brought to Egypt along with his entire household, Joseph assured his brothers that they had nothing to fear from him. Joseph gave these words to his brothers. You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20

                We cannot always see the outcome of the curveballs we face in life. What we can do is face them with courage and confidence in Christ. The Bible gives us several promises that we can hold onto when those inevitable curve balls come our way.

1. We can face them with confidence because Christ is with us.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV) We can have inner peace even in the face of trouble, because we know that we are secure in Christ.

2. God will redeem our situation if we trust him.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV) When we seek to follow Christ with all our heart, we can be assured that God will work good even out of bad situations. Paul is not saying that every situation will be good, but that God can and will bring good out of every situation. We may not see it right away, just like Joseph, but it will come.

3. We will be given the strength to face the curveballs of life.
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 2 Corinthians 4:6-10 (NIV)

4. God will use our weakness to demonstrate his power.
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)

                Young hitters, when they first come up to the majors, are often fooled by the curve. They become fixated on the fastball and become vulnerable. The best hitters in the major leagues have mastered the art of hitting the curveball. They have learned to anticipate when it is coming. One of the things that helps young players get better is having a hitting coach; someone who has faced the curve and knows how to respond.

                As we mature in our faith, we should become better at handling the curveballs that life throws at us. We should learn to anticipate what might come and be ready. We can do this because we have the very best hitting coach; the Holy Spirit. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:26-27 (NIV)

                When a hitter gets too comfortable at the plate, a pitcher will often throw inside to move him off of the plate. The goal is to throw the hitter off balance. The same is true spiritually. When we have been hitting all the fastballs that have been coming our way, Satan will do his best to unsettle us. We need to trust Christ and stand firm in him.

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NIV)

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)