When I was young, I loved baseball. I played baseball in some form almost every day. But early in my organized baseball career, I was hit in the head with a pitch. You have to know that this was so long ago that baseball helmets were not available to kids’ teams. I was knocked unconscious by the pitch. After that, I became quite afraid of pitchers and almost always stepped back as the pitch was thrown. Therefore, I didn’t get many hits. Although I still played for many years, it was obvious that I was not gifted in the sport and should not look to a future in baseball.
I Corinthians 3:7-9 says, “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers.” Sometimes, we wonder why we can’t do something well or why the results are not as good as we would like. God gifts each of us with abilities and aptitudes that are designed for His purposes. That doesn’t mean that we can’t or shouldn’t contribute in other areas, but God gives special blessings in the areas that He has gifted and the good results are always by His power and not our own.
Reluctant Retiree 