One after another. Honestly, at this point, I keep waiting for one more.
No spring break trip.
Season on hold.
Season canceled.
No summer practice.
Four weeks of summer practice.
No more summer practice.
No in-person school.
No fall practice.
No organized meetings.
No organized strength and speed program.
Wait for word on next season.
One disappointment after another.
That’s what 2020 has been for this baseball coach. Same for you? Thought so.
I wish it were just about the games being canceled, but it’s way beyond that. It’s the lost time with guys with whom we were making progress on and off the field. It’s the wondering how to face an uncertain future. It’s the feeling that you have to do everything NOW because you might not get a tomorrow. It’s the knowing that you have no idea what’s happening with your guys. It’s the feeling of falling behind in every area. It’s just disappointing.
And it’s gotten me to thinking about how a Christian–a Christian coach/player/parent– should handle disappointment.
If we are the ones called out of this world, called to new life, then that surely must include our reactions to things like 2020. But I’ll be honest, I don’t really feel like reacting with anything other than questions, confusion, anger, resentment, and everything that goes with them. Same for you? Thought so.
And maybe that’s the first step, the first permission in all of this, that Christians can react to disappointment with honesty.
Honestly, I wish 2020 had never happened.
Honestly, I don’t understand the point of it.
Honestly, I can’t come up with great answers.
Honestly, I’m tired of trying to.
Honestly, you are too.
Honestly, none of us can speak for God in all of this.
Honestly, this is one of those ‘higher ways’ things that maybe we aren’t meant to understand.
Honestly, if you’re struggling in your faith, you’re not alone.
Honestly, if you still think God is good despite not-good circumstances, you’re probably making it better than most.
Honestly, God can handle our honesty.
Honestly, I’m glad he’s big enough to do so.
Honestly, I’ve read the Psalms, and it seems that being honest about disappointment is something God expects us to do.
Honestly, trying to fake it isn’t biblical.
Honestly, just being honest is the starting point, not the ending point, as far as I can tell in Scripture.
Honestly, until it’s over, taking one step after another might be all we can do.
Honestly, since God is God and we are not, just taking that next step might be all he wants us to do.
Honestly, Lord, the disappointments have piled up, and I’m grateful we can be honest about it, and know that your love for us doesn’t change.
