Last season was more like an off-season for me. My season was cut short when, in June, I injured my elbow. It was then, when most of my teammates were in the height of their season, that I began preparing for 2017.

Since that time I’ve really been focusing on what I needed to do to recover from my injury while focus on having a right mindset for the future. At first, when I found out that I needed to have surgery—that my season was over—it took a little bit of time to process, but fortunately I was able to surround myself with people who encouraged me and reminded me of my long term goals and purpose. A weekend with my family and friends was enough to encourage and refresh me so that, heading into surgery, I knew that God was in control. Whatever happened to me from there on out would be His doing.

If that same injury happened to me two years ago, in the midst of the toughest season of my life, I would have taken on a victim mentality—the “woe is me” mindset. Looking back, I can see how God has molded me, changing my heart and mind so I can see God’s plan as better than my own. He always comes alongside me and gives me exactly what I need to handle what is going on in my life at that moment. All He asks of me is to be responsible to obey Him in all He has for me that day, whether that means rehabbing an elbow injury, pitching on the mound, or serving in church. All I have to focus on is today because He is taking care of tomorrow. God has my future in His hands and He promises to take care of me.

“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” —Matthew 6:33-34

That said, during the last ten months of rehab I have had to fight the doubt, fear, and insecurities that threatened to creep into my thoughts. Minor setbacks or slow progress tempted me toward anxiety, even though the doctors assured me it was normal.

Through all of this I’ve learned that God allows us to go through things today that will better us in the future. Throughout the past few years, God has been teaching me patience—He’s been showing me how to wait for Him. And last season, I started to see fruit that patience provides. With patience comes the strength and courage to live confidently in who the Lord has called me to be. Waiting for the Lord means being patient to let God work in my life in His timing instead of mine.

This theme of patience has forced me into daily dependence on Jesus. Days when I fail to depend on Jesus, and instead try taking things into my own hands, I find myself filled with worry and anxiety about the future. There is so much that’s outside a ballplayer’s control (for the most part) during the season: Being traded, getting injured, change of management, etc. The more I experience this the more I realize just how much I need to constantly depend on Jesus. When I relinquish my own hopes, dreams, and plans and offer them to God with open hands, I am able to find joy in the journey. My peace comes as God takes away all my anxiety and replaces my plans with those that are much bigger and much better.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” —Psalm 27:14

—Mark Appel

Mark Appel is a regular contributor to The Increase, providing monthly articles and opinions.

View Mark’s Increase Profile here: http://theincreasebaseball.com/author/markappel/

 
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