A Douse of Doubt and Spoonful of Softball - My Story

(Continued from the January 3rd blog, Calling All Doubters...)

   
     I went to church camp in the 6th grade. While I was there, I finally understood the burden of sin and the power of Christ's sacrifice and forgiveness. I also began to understand the importance of building a relationship with the Lord. I had been a believer for quite a few years (having basically growing up in church) but this was the first time that everything, well, clicked. My faith had become my own.
    The "camp experience" quickly wore off, but I continued to read my Bible regularly. I read nearly EVERY day for a year. After that first year, I became more lazy about my Bible reading. I didn't "feel" like reading my Bible and its daily importance began to wear off. I soon began to doubt. I didn't realize what I was feeling until May 5th, 2012. I was headed to Lexington, KY with my dad to watch a UK softball game. I told him, "Dad," *insert tears* "I'm starting to wonder if God is even real."
     Doubt is conflicting. I KNEW God was real. I had felt His Holy Spirit moving inside of me. Why was I starting to question His existence?
     My dad let me dish out everything that was in my heart for 1 hour of the 2 hour drive to John Cropp Stadium. He told me that I was normal. He also told me about the power of prayer. Finally, he told me a story about a man named George Mueller.

George Mueller

     George was working at an orphanage with 300 children. They didn't have any food, but they all sat down at the table and prayed. A minute later, a man knocked on the door. He had made bread for the orphanage. My dad told me to pray and watch my prayers be answered, just as George did.

      Heading into the busy city of Lexington, we hit rush hour traffic. We were cutting it close to game time and my first prayer of the night was, "Lord, please let us get there before the first pitch."
      When we pulled into John Cropp Stadium, 5 minutes after the posted start time, we saw an announcement for a rain delay. There were clouds ALL over the sky. God answered my prayer. I thought, we won't miss the first pitch....there won't BE a first pitch!  I prayed, "Lord, please don't let it rain."

John Cropp Stadium

     As we were waiting to hear the news on the rain delay, the UK players started coming out of the dugout. They were going to sign autographs! I ran to the truck and grabbed a softball that was lodged in between the bottom of a seat and the floor board. I had spent time studying the team roster and reading about the team, and now I would actually be able to meet them! Soon after I had all the player's signatures, the coach, Rachel Lawson, came out to tell the girls to get ready to warm up. The clouds had lifted and the game would go on! I was extremely happy. I told God, "Thank you, Lord."

Meeting the UK softball players

   Since the rain delay knocked the game back two hours there was no entry fee. My dad and I found our seats and watched the UK Wildcats and the LSU Tigers warm-up. It wasn't long before the first pitch was thrown.
     I had brought my glove with me and I prayed, "God, please help me catch a foul ball." I was in anticipation that a ball would come my way for about 3 innings. At the height of my anticipation, when I began to get aggravated, an announcement was made to return any foul balls to the booth behind the stadium to receive a piece of candy. I all the sudden no longer cared to catch a foul ball. Instead, I set my eyes on a t-shirt.
     Whenever the UK pitcher, Chanda Bell, threw a strikeout, t-shirts were thrown to the fans. I prayed, "Lord, since I don't want a ball anymore, please help me catch a t-shirt." After every strikeout, I would jump around like a maniac but a shirt would never come my way... until the 6th inning.

     Chanda threw a strikeout, I jumped up and started doing jumping jacks to get the t-shirt thower's attention.. I had on a very cheap belt which were holding on to a pair of shorts that were way to big for me. The belt popped off, my pants went slack, and the shirt flew into the air. I had my sights set on it. I would catch it. I reached out in front of a group of people and grabbed the size 2X shirt from the air. I threw my fist into the air and said "YESSSSS!" Then, I quickly sat back down and re-clasped my belt. I hope no one caught that on video.
     The game was coming to an end. LSU had a two run lead in the last inning, UK had runners on second and third with two outs. I prayed, "Lord, please, please, please let UK win!" Emily Gaines was up to bat. She hit it short, right to the left fielder. I cringed. There was no way they could win now. Then, all of the sudden, after a round of cheers from the scarce LSU crowd, 00 in the outfield dropped the ball. It just fell out of her glove! It was a total angels in the outfield moment. The runner on second made it home and UK won the game! The stadium went electric, and so did my heart. I said, "Thank you, thank you, thank you, God!"

    I went home smiling that night. I told my dad about all my prayers that were answered and that I no longer doubted God. Sometimes I look back on this experience and think about how selfish I was the entire night. But, that night had renewed my faith in God. I know He hears me. I know that He is always with me.
     I have had other doubts and I'm sure I will have more. However, I know that no matter the doubts I have, my God is real. My God is faithful. He will NEVER leave me nor forsake me.

 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:16 



Follow great softball by following the UK Wildcat softball program!

Blessings! :)