This morning, or was it yesterday? Something came to me in an email that upset me greatly. It seemed like very bad news. It certainly was a curve ball, and it beaned me. Diane and I were both disturbed and both of us reacted strongly. Me, the most. Then this morning I opened my Psalms devotional book, turned to today's date, and read this:

Have you ever noticed that when something takes you by surprise, your first reaction is usually the wrong one?

How is that for being a timely question?

I am reminded of the time I used to coach Little League. I had a couple of players who would back out of the batter's box when a pitch came close to them, so close it surprised and shocked them. I told them not to be afraid, to stand in the box. I went so far as to lay three bats on the ground behind them and if they stepped out they would fall. That was worse than staying in the box. I also promised them that if they stood their ground they would get a hit, something that any batter surely wants. Backing out was the wrong reaction, standing your ground and taking a swing, is the right reaction. A good metaphor for life as well.

That example being given, I have to admit that as spiritual as I think I am I am not wired to always deal with the unexpected. I can say, thank the Lord, that I don't stay that way, lost in my despair, anger, or both. It does, however, take me time to shift my mind and spirit into the right gear, and even then they seem to grind a bit. I have a hard time sometimes staying in the batter's box.

King David had to deal with surprises, not good ones, as well. He writes about a time he was fighting a battle against the Syrians in the North, and at the same time, Israel was being invaded by surprise, from the South by some other army of bad guys. Those invaders did a lot of damage and as a result, the people of Isreal thought that God had abandoned them, that He was mad at them for some reason. Their defeat left them reeling, stunned and dismayed. But David received a word from God that his enemies, Isreal's enemies all of them would be defeated, and to David's credit he was quick to believe that word. And it happened just the way God told him it would.

David trusted the Lord and the Lord honored his faith. Storms will come, curve balls will fly at you, maybe even hit you but God is still in your corner. He didn't save us to allow our lives to be spoiled, He wants to bless us and to be a blessing through us as well. When surprises and curve balls come our way we need to remember His promises, stand on them, and stay in the batter's box!

Psalm 60

1 You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;

you have been angry—now restore us!

2 You have shaken the land and torn it open;

mend its fractures, for it is quaking.

3 You have shown your people desperate times;

you have given us wine that makes us stagger.

4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner

to be unfurled against the bow.

5 Save us and help us with your right hand,

that those you love may be delivered.

6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:

“In triumph, I will parcel out Shechem

and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.

7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim is my helmet,

Judah is my scepter.

8 Moab is my washbasin,

on Edom, I toss my sandals;

over Philistia, I shout in triumph.”

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us

and no longer go out with our armies?

11 Give us aid against the enemy,

for human help is worthless.

12 With God we will gain the victory,

and he will trample down our enemies.

Derrick