Never Give Up

Jon Hustling To First

Friday night at the ball park under the lights, the smell of hot dogs and the sound of a fastball hitting the catchers mitt - it's time to play ball. The Linn-Mar sophomore team played two memorable games in Iowa City tonight. The first game was one they would like to forget, but the sight of goose eggs on the score board was hard to ignore - no runs, no hits, and seven errors. It's hard to forget when a game is called because of the ten run rule - ouch!

The second game started right off where the first one ended. Linn-Mar was behind 7-0 and had committed five errors after three innings. Things looked bleak. But the team continued to play hard and things began to turn around. Linn-Mar was trailing 8-5 going into the last inning and then scored three runs in the seventh to tie the game. The comeback was complete when they scored in extra innings to win 9-8! A winning outcome seemed impossible and unimaginable in the third inning. But hard work, perseverance and team work turned the entire game around. Who would have thought?

What obstacles or adversities are you facing in your life that seem impossible to overcome? Persevering through difficulties develops character and leads to the blessings of God. You will never know "what could have been" if you give up. God doesn't guarantee us last inning victories or the alleviation of suffering. But He does promise that He will never leave or forsake us, and that He will use each circumstance in our life for good. That is, if we are willing to trust Him, persevere to the end and never give up.

Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:3-5