Recently, I was sitting in one of my son’s baseball games.  From the onset, the players on our team struggled.  By the end of the second inning the score was 2-9 (in the other team’s favor).  The excitement of a possible win was completely gone at this point.  My only hope was that the other team would reach enough runs ahead permitting the umpire to call the game and us to go home early (I believe they call it the “mercy rule”).  In the beginning of the third inning, something happened.  The other team came up to bat and my son’s team swiftly defeated their attempts at any runs.  It came time for our team to bat.  It was almost as if someone flipped a switch.  As our players stepped up, each child began performing at their peak skill level.  By the end of the third inning we had tied the score 9-9.  Every adult sat back in amazement.  The next inning proved the same – no runs for the other team and seven runs for our team.  We approached the fifth inning, thwarted any runs the opposing team attempted, and gained three more points before the umpire called the game in our favor. The final score was 19-9.  We won!!!!

At the end of the game, I felt convicted.  Because things hadn’t turned out well in the beginning, to save my son from embarrassment, I was ready for it to be over.  I had prematurely began rehearsing my “We’ll get em’ next time” speech.  Everyone loves a good comeback story after all is said and done.  But when we’re in the middle of a situation with no promised outcome – let’s just say, we would rather be home hiding from the world.  The Bible is FULL of comeback stories.  Hannah was childless for many years until God broke her barrenness. Her with a son who would go on to become His mouthpiece to accomplish a great work in that time period.  David should have died on that hill fighting the giant, Goliath, yet he was victorious.  Daniel should have been eaten in that lion’s den, yet he emerged without a scrape.  These are just three of the many comeback stories I could remind you of.  But here’s what I want you to grasp.  In each situation, they (Hannah/David/Daniel) never gave up.  They acknowledged their struggle before the Lord but pressed forward in the face of adversity.  There was a hope of a more positive outcome that drove them to continue.  Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatians, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” [6:9]  We can’t expect to ever arrive at our comeback if we always give up prematurely.

Closing remarks and encouragement: It is highly probable our comeback is waiting behind the next corner.  God specializes in bringing the “high places low” and making “the crooked places straight.”  He’s always at work on our behalf.  Our harvest is ahead, but we must purpose to press on even in the hard times!

Press on, my friends!