Detour: Destination Abiding Love by JoAnn Carter Page A

God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.’ We all are but jars of clay and weak vessels, but God can use a willing heart to accomplish great things for His glory. I guess it all boils down to one question, are you willing to be used by Him?”
    “Honestly, my head says yes, but my heart says I need to be careful and set up some major boundaries or I’m going to be hurt.”
    “Pray about it, and you’ll figure it out.” Melissa squeezed Sierra’s hand, then let go and stood up. “I need to run, or I’m going to be late.”
    “OK. Thanks for stopping by.”
    Melissa reached for the doorknob and then turned back. “I’ll be praying for you, too.”
     
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    Cole balanced the phone on his shoulder and walked to his living room couch. He didn’t usually seek advice, but now was one of those times when pride needed to be laid aside and truth spoken. Pastor Bill was someone Cole trusted enough to take into his confidence. “I guess I dropped the ball somewhere, Pastor.”
    “What do you mean?”
    He jammed his fingers through his thick hair. “I can remember when I first asked Christ to forgive my sins and be Lord of my life. I was so on fire, just like Sierra is. But now...” He pounded on the couch with a fist. “I don’t even know if there’s much of a spark. What should I do?”
    “Have you been reading the Word?”
    Cole itched to hedge the question. “No. I haven’t had the time.”
    “How’s your prayer life?” the pastor asked in an unpresuming voice.
    “Besides Grace before meals, pretty nonexistent.”
    “Hmm.” Pastor was quiet for a moment. “Did you know I played baseball as a kid?”
    “Ah…no.”
    “I remember one time, we were in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, bases loaded. Our team needed just one run to win. I was up to bat.” Pastor Bill took a deep breath. “I can remember like it was yesterday. The first pitch was high; I knew better than to swing, but I just wanted to get my bat on the ball. It didn’t work out the way I wanted. My team cheered me on, though. They knew I could do it, and so did I.” He chuckled. “I was actually a very good player. Anyway, I stepped out of the batter’s box, took a few swings, and then stepped back in. The next pitch was headed outside, but last minute, it curved in and across the plate. Strike two.” The pastor’s words came quicker now. “Third pitch. I knew I had to do something or I’d let my whole team down. We needed this win, and the team was counting on me. The pitcher took his windup and let it sail. I swung too early, the ball popped up and went over the back stop. With my heart pounding, I reassured myself I was still in the game. Fourth pitch delivered. I held my bat back, kept my knees bent and my arm up. The ball came at lightning speed. I took the cut and followed through... only to meet with air.”
    “You struck out?”
    “I failed. And in my mind, that made me a failure.” The line was quiet for a moment. “That’s what I thought until my wise dad set me straight.”
    “How did he do that?”
    “He used this experience to remind me that just because I didn’t get the hit the team needed, that didn’t change who I was. A failed hit didn’t make me a failure.”
    “Interesting, but what does this have to do with me?”
    “Well, going with the baseball analogy, even when we’re in the game and have given our lives to Christ, sometimes God pitches us a light that shines on sin in our lives that we hadn’t been aware of. When we see that sin, we feel like we missed the ball. It makes us feel like a failure, just like my game did for me all those years ago.”
    “You think God is showing me something.”
    “I think He’s been trying to