Disappointment: An Invitation to Divine Appointment

Insignificance Is Often A Prerequisite for Preeminence

It was another Texas spring filled with the hustle and bustle of sun scorched practices, week night games, stinky cleats, stained pants, and sweaty jerseys. Baseball season was in full swing!

I had taken a step back from being head coach for the t-ball team that year. My middle son graduated to coach pitch so I opted to assist his coaching staff instead. It was a great year, we had some extremely athletic kids who really grew into their technique over the course of the season. We had some kids who started off as front runners and plateaued near the end of the season. We also had a few whose greatest victory was making contact during their at bat and not losing focus in the field.

Photo by Joey Kyber on Unsplash

My son fell somewhere in between the first two categories- he was a solid and dependable player, he showed up and gave full effort each game, he pulled his own weight in the batting line up, he could pick up slack in the infield if a key player was having an off day, and he set a great example for his teammates with his morale and character. But, he didn’t have as many distinct “stand out” moments as some of his teammates did. He was just steady across the board, never too high or too low, just dependable.

In prior years he had played the position of pitcher, which is very busy and involved during the t-ball age. Kids in this position are some of the most competent and/or athletic on the team. My son was used to working hard and being relied on, but he was also used to being valuable. His last year of t-ball had been a stand out year for him. He was drafted to the all star team, excelled in multiple tournaments, and ultimately advanced to the state championships where his team placed third. Needless to say, he had just come off a “career high”, if you will, prior to the current season. So each game this season he continued to show up and give his very best for his teammates, but he also was working really hard to compete with his own previous year’s performance. Would he be able to make the cut this year? Would he get to experience that same kind of exhilaration that came from fighting hard and winning games with a league patch on his shoulder and all his buddies by his side? All he could do was give it his all and wait to see if it was enough.

Well, as the season came to an end the head coaches voted and an all star team was created. My son sat and waited as all his closest friends received their letters of invitation. He heard rumors at school about how this kid made the team and that kid made the team. He came home telling me all about what his classmates were saying, he was still extremely hopeful he’d get a letter soon.

When the last practice was approaching, his coach pulled him aside to break the news. “Buddy, we had a really hard time narrowing the team down this year. We couldn’t quite figure out an open fielding position to fit your skills, so unfortunately I don’t have a letter for you.” His coach and I both watched his countenance drop as he tried desperately to hold his tears back and appear unfazed. His coach continued, “But, I’d like for you to still dress out and come be our official bat boy in the dugout if that’s something you’d like to do?”

My heart pounded heavy in my chest knowing the magnitude of disappointment he was wading through. Would he accept this invitation to essentially serve his teammates? Would he sacrifice his time even though he wasn’t allowed to participate or partake? Would he have the fortitude to see past his current disappointment and choose to support those who were chosen in his place? To my surprise, he gulped back his tears and without hesitation told his coach “Yes, I’d love to be bat boy. Thank you coach!”.

Fast forward to the district tournament, it’s June and we’re all roasting in the oven of the East Texas summer. My son shows up and gives 1000% to his team. He sprints to grab every bat and sprints back, never walking. He runs around doing anything that is asked of him with a heart of gold. In the second day of the tournament he tells me “I’m exhausted mom! I really don’t want to do another game!” We talk it out, I encourage him that God honors a willing heart, and he goes and gives it his all again.

The team ends up placing and qualifying to advance to regionals. Everyone gathers around as the league announces the winners, the teams all line up, and suddenly it hits me… he won’t get a ring because he isn’t on the actual roster. My mom heart starts regretting the previously mentioned pep talk, I discreetly pull him out of the line of players and back into the dugout. He asks what the problem is and I explain that only the kids on the roster get rings. Tears well up in both our eyes, he grabs my hand and turns to watch all his friends receive their rings. He sheds a few quiet tears, looks up at me, and moves on to congratulating his teammates and admiring their new shiny rings. The moms call the whole team over for a picture- he runs over only to realize they were taking a picture of all the boys hands held out over home plate sporting their new rings. He trots back to me trying to be inconspicuous, holding back more tears.

Photo by benjamin hershey on Unsplash

Suddenly there was a voice coming from behind us calling his name. “I heard we have a world class bat boy here tonight? Is that you?” The league director asked while looking at my son. “This is for you buddy, we heard you’ve been working really hard and deserve this.” He proceeded to hand my son not just a ring, but a state sized ring that was heavier and larger than any of the other rings given that day. My son couldn’t even speak; he accepted the ring, walked promptly to me, buried his head in my stomach and cried tears of joy. Obviously I was a hot mess at that moment as well! I cried as much, if not more, than he did as I squatted down to hug him tightly. “God always sees you, Buddy! He sees your heart!”

In the weeks following I pondered the happenings of that day often. I kept noticing the parallel pointing to the story of young David. I was reminded of the disappointment David surely wrestled with when his brothers were sent to fight in the battle while he was left home tending to the family flock. He wasn’t big enough or special enough to make the cut and fully participate in the war, but he was dependable enough that his family relied on him to protect their livelihood and travel back and forth when needed. They trusted him to serve well, to fight off lions and bears, and to do what was asked of him. He was dependable. But he still wasn’t chosen to participate in the same way his brothers had been. Surely, when David’s father charged him with the mundane task of delivering food, he would’ve possibly felt frustrated, disappointed, and overlooked. I wonder if he hesitated before committing to serve his family in the midst of his disappointment or if he accepted the charge promptly with a willing heart? He wasn’t being sent to participate or fight along side his brothers, still, we see in scripture that he was willing to do what was needed of him.

If David hadn’t been willing to do the insignificant task at hand, I wonder, would we ever see the story of David and Goliath play out in our bibles? Just think, if David would have thrown a fit about the unfairness of the situation or allowed himself to wallow in his very real and valid disappointment, he may never have been in position to slay Goliath. If Goliath was never slain by David, Saul would never have invited him into the palace. He likely wouldn’t have become a warrior or ever been made king. Therefore, the psalms may never have been written, Solomon may never have existed, the temple may not have been built nor the book of proverbs written, so on and so on. You see my point?

If David hadn’t willingly agreed to be a servant in the very place of his deep disappointment, he would have potentially forfeited a lifetime of blessing, purpose, and favor. His willingness to commit to something as insignificant as lunch duty, lead directly to his divine appointment with destiny. His life, his children’s lives, and the entire nation of Israel (and eventually the entire world) would be forever changed and impacted by his willing obedience in the exact place of his deep disappointment.

As we continue forward into this new year, can we collectively vow to slow down and notice the places of our disappointment? Can we choose to have a heart of service and obedience even when we are hurting? Can we be willing to support even if we haven’t been chosen to fully participate? Can we be like my son and show up for others, give our all, and answer the call to serve? Can we trust that God rewards obedience and a willing heart? Friends, if we can truly lay down our disappointment at the feet of our Father and choose to be obedient servants- we too, will be on our way to our own divine appointment with destiny. Whether we know it or not!

No matter how insignificant your task at hand feels, understand this; in God’s kingdom, insignificance is often a prerequisite for preeminence. We have a God who sees us, even if we’re not on the official team roster or called to the front line of the battle. He sees the shepherd on lunch duty, He sees the bat boy giving his all, and He sees you!

“And Jesse said to David his son, “Take for your brothers an ephah of this parched grain, and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp to your brothers. Also take these ten cheeses to the commander of their thousand. See if your brothers are well, and bring some token from them.””

1 Samuel 17:17-18 ESV

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;”

Psalm 37:23 ESV

“Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”

2 Timothy 2:21 ESV

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””

I Samuel 16:7 NKJV

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.”

Matthew 5:8 NKJV

“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.”

Proverbs 3:3-4 NKJV

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.”

Psalms 19:14 NKJV

“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV

“And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Luke 16:15 ESV

“Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.”

Proverbs 28:14 ESV

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

Romans 8:28-30 ESV

“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;”

Isaiah 1:19 ESV

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Galatians 5:13 ESV

“And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.””

Mark 9:35 ESV

“The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Matthew 23:11-12 ESV