Knuckleballs: The Pitch You Never See Coming

For the longest time, I was afraid to share this because of what people might think. It’s crazy to think that I would be insecure about sharing an event that happened in my life! But as I view this upcoming Thanksgiving, I am grateful to God for his love and grace in my life. As I share this, I pray that that it helps someone who needs to know of God’s care for them.

Life has a way of throwing knuckleballs at you, doesn’t it? Knuckleballs are the pitches you never see coming—until it is too late. They are not fastballs or curveballs. Those you can pretty much get a read on and knock them deep into right field. A knuckleball sneaks up on you like a ninja, and then punches you in the throat when you least expect it.

A doctor’s visit in 2015 started a chain of knuckleball events. The doctor prescribed a medicine that I told her that I was allergic to. In her words, “Some people grow out of it.” So, I took it. I started not to feel well. I had swelling, severe rashes, and itching. The doctor in the emergency room thought it was bad. They gave me medicine to help sooth my condition but I do remember her thinking that I was going to die. By God’s grace, I did not die. I was sent to a dermatologist who saw that I was having a severe allergic reaction and altered my medicine. I begin to get better in a couple of days.

Less than a month later, I got a phone call from the owner of the house that my dad rented. He asked if I knew that there was an ambulance in his front yard. I went to his house and just missed the ambulance. The hospital ended up transferring my father to another hospital. We were told that he was going to get better so my wife and I planned a day trip for that weekend. As we were getting ready to leave, we received a phone call from the hospital that my dad had died.

Knuckleball after knuckleball.

A few weeks later, my wife and I decided to still have that day date. It was incredible. I surprised her with what I had planned and we enjoyed our time together. A couple weeks later, we faced another knuckleball. I can tell you that experience led to thoughts that can only be described as spiritual attacks and filled us with despair.

But the Lord gently touched me and reminded me to open the Bible. So we turned to the Scriptures and embraced the words of the Holy Scriptures.

Psalm 23:1 – The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

If you have been distracted or discouraged by circumstances, walked in the flesh more than walking by the Spirit, failed in your calling to follow Jesus in all areas of life…I want to remind you:

You are not alone.

The Lord your God is with you.Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

This Thanksgiving, praise God for his goodness and celebrate his faithfulness to you and your loved ones.

From our home to yours, we wish you the most blessed and happy Thanksgiving.