Baseball!! I love the game. I played baseball for much of my life. Starting at five years old and ending at 23, baseball was my life. Still today I cannot wait until the season starts. The first pitch, sunny weather, leather gloves, rain delays, strawberrys, balls to the chin, being hit by a pitch, making contact, striking out, extending a single into a double, stealing bases, all are part of the game. You have both good and bad things that happen. You learn to take the good with the bad. Without the bad you would not learn the good.
I've often wondered what it must have been like for Peter the night of Christ's death. He had experienced much good throughout the time he spent with Jesus. He also experienced much that was bad. One one hand Peter saw Christ in all his glory during the transfiguation. On the other hand, he heard Christ tell him, "Get behind me Satan." He experienced the love of Christ as Jesus washed his disciples feet, but Peter went on to tell Christ not to! To which Christ said if he didn't wash Peter, then Peter would have no part with him in his kingdom. Finally the night of the trial of Jesus, he denied Christ three times just as Jesus said he would. However, Christ was far from being finished with him. After his resurrection, Jesus reinstated Peter with a question of love. Peter became a great witness in the kindom of Christ. He became the Rock of the church.
How are you when things aren't going well? I can tell you from experience that I get down on myself easily. But Christ lifts me up like no one else. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He proved to me how much he loves me by the aweful death on the cross. Furthermore, he proves his love for me by his actions toward Peter, the man who had denied him with cursing. He reinstated him and he told him in John 21:19, "Follow me."
If times are hard for you and you don't know what to do, just do what Jesus said and follow him. I can assure you that you will feel his love pour out upon you when you follow him.
