Answer Back
What do you do when life throws you more losses than wins? Or when fear whispers a lie that cripples your confidence and steals your strength?
It was the last softball game of a long, losing season. I scanned the field as my girls warmed up. They had worked hard and come so far. But, I wondered, would that be enough this time? The air hung heavy with the expectation that this ragtag team would end up in the loser's circle—again.
I called them into the dugout and gave my standard pep talk. We circled up and put our hands one on top of the other as I counted, “One, two, three….” The girls mustered a less than enthusiastic, “Fight,” and jogged out onto the field.
Seven innings in, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement. The score was close, but we were ahead. This could be it! Our first and only win. Running onto the field, the girls whooped and high-fived. However, their celebration was short-lived. The other team quickly took the lead, and after an endless inning, my girls finally made the third out and slumped into the dugout.
This was our last chance to score runs and pull out the win. Most of these girls never played softball before. The entire season had been a learning curve for me and for them. And I wanted this win for them so desperately I could taste it.
I called the lineup. First at bat was one of my new girls. She jumped when the umpire yelled, “Batter up!” Wide-eyed and hesitant, she looked towards me for a lifeline. She needed to believe she could stand in the batter’s box and face her fear. Her skills were no match for the pitcher’s prowess—she knew it. And I knew this wasn’t about a win or a hit but about a heart—her heart.
I draped my arm across her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “You know the fundamentals, and you’ve got your favorite bat. When you get to that plate, I want you to answer back.”
A puzzled expression crept across her face. Lips quivering, she whispered, “I haven’t hit a ball all season, Coach.”
“I’m not asking you to hit the ball. I’m asking you to answer back. No matter what that pitcher throws, you stand your ground. Show her you’re brave. That’s how you answer back. You've got everything you need right here.” I tapped on her heart.
It wasn’t a Hallmark movie ending. She struck out, but she went down swinging. More importantly, she ran back to the dugout with her head high and a smile on her face. With every pitch that whispered, “Are you afraid?” she stood her ground and answered back, “No, I’m not!”
The Bible tells us to Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil (Ephesians 6:11 NLT). Spending time in God’s word teaches us the fundamentals. Hiding His word in our hearts is like carrying our favorite bat up to the plate. When faced with an intimidating circumstance, we can picture Jesus tapping our hearts, reminding us that we have everything we need in Him.
It doesn’t matter what pitch the enemy throws or how often he whispers, “Are you afraid?” Find courage in God’s promises. Stand your ground. Keep swinging, and answer back, “No, I’m not.”
