Major League Baseball is in a lockout right now and I’ll probably write about that soon, but today I want to unpack a fascinating article I came across about free agent, Anthony Rizzo. He’s a first baseman who recently played for the Yankees and formerly won a World Series with the Cubs.

On ESPN.com, the headline reads, “Anthony Rizzo’s Offseason Training Regimen Includes Getting Hit By Pitches.”

Writer, Joe DeMartino, explains that Rizzo is the active leader for most times hit by a pitch (at 178), making him 13th all-time after only 11 years in the majors.

DeMartino brings this up because there’s an Instagram story that shows Rizzo getting purposely pelted in a batting cage by pitches similar to Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore.

So, was this just a funny video for fun? Or, as DeMartino writes, “If former Cubs’ teammate, Ian Happ’s, Instagram story is any indication, Rizzo specifically trains to withstand getting hit by a pitch during the offseason, in an apparent homage to Happy Gilmore.”

It makes sense that Rizzo would prepare his body in the offseason to take the inevitable pitches he’ll get hit by when the pitches start flying at him even faster during the baseball season. That way, he’s ready to stand strong in the batter’s box and withstand the hits.

When it comes to our own lives, we know we’re going to be hit by a lot of “pitches” when it comes to trials, tribulations, challenges, and struggles.

Jesus tells us in John 16:33 (NLT), “…Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows…”

Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (ESV), “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…”

Since we know we’ve been hit during previous difficult seasons and can anticipate more challenging “pitches” coming our way in future seasons, how are we training and preparing to be hit by the inevitable “pitches” of life?

We probably don’t want to stand in the batting cage, inviting pitches to hit us so to speak, but we still must do what we can to have a training regimen that makes us spiritually ready to take the hits.

Then, when we do get hit by pitches that are flying at us in every direction, they’ll bounce right off without taking us down.

We stand firm while getting hit by the storms of life when our faith is deeply rooted in Jesus and His ways. We train and develop a firm foundation by knowing, trusting, obeying, memorizing, meditating, and studying God’s Word.

As Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-25 (ESV) “Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CSB) tells us, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NLT) adds, “…train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

This preparation allows us to “stand in the batter’s box” and withstand being hit by pitches from the enemy.

We know they’re coming, so let’s remain encouraged to, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are” (1 Peter 5:8-9; NLT).

As discouraging as it may seem to face the reality of our broken world with all of its suffering and the inevitable pitches we’re personally hit by, we can remain prepared to handle what comes our way as we find our hope and peace in Jesus.

As He says in John 16:33 (NIV), “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Today, let’s rejoice in the victory we have in Jesus and also remember that “These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won’t last very long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever!” (2 Corinthians 4:17; TLB).

I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your power and strength that enable me to withstand the storms of life. Please help me prepare and train spiritually to handle the inevitable difficulties and temptations that are sure to come my way. I pray You’d help me stand firm when the hits come as I continue to build a firm foundation on You and Your Word. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Discussion Questions for PACKS: 1. What “pitches” have you been hit by recently and how did you handle them? 2. In what ways does your training regimen need to change to withstand future “hits by pitches”?

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