Everyone hates being on the bench. I mean, you never sign up to play baseball to just sit on the bench and watch. You sign up to play, you sign up to be a part of the homeruns, the strike outs, and to make amazing plays. You sign up in hopes that these things will become something that you can be a part of, you practice in order to achieve these goals, and you dream of being the teams MVP.
The world race is not that different.
Many people sign up for the race to experience crazy things, to be apart of people’s salvation stories, to be on an “adventure” all the time, and they want to be the star player.
But that gets exhausting. I know because that was me.
But there is a noticeable difference between a baseball game and the world race… GRACE.
Though I have tried to be the star player many times and fallen short, my team is there to meet me with grace. Though I have prayed for healing over people and nothing has happened, they met me there with grace. Though I have been instantly rejected by so.many.people. trying to share the gospel with them, my squad has met me there with grace.
This past weekend I had to be a bench player.
I was stuck in bed with an intestinal infection, and I wanted nothing more than to be a part of what God was doing in the lives around me. I would get on Facebook and see stories of squad-mates leading others to Jesus and I instantly got jealous. Then I would hear my teammates stories of how He was working in their lives and ministries as well… I became ungrateful for where I was at.
But that’s when it hit me.
SOMETIMES BEING A BENCH PLAYER IS THE BEST.
In those 4 days that I stayed back because of sickness, I got to see my teammates and squad-mates come and go from their ministries. Praying for them whenever I was awake, and I got to see the exhaustion and the joy on their faces from the long day they had. I got to hear stories of people talked to, podcasts heard, and breakthroughs had. AND I HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT.
I got to see how much God was doing in them first hand, and it was honestly refreshing.
Not only that, but I was met with grace once again. I was constantly being asked, “How are you feeling?” and, “Do you need anything?” Which was always followed by, “Let me know if there is anything I can do for you!”
When you have 10+ people checking in on you, you can’t help but feel cared for and loved.
As weird as it sounds, I’m happy I got sick. I’m happy I got to be a bench player for a little bit because I had the best seat in the stadium.
Thanks for reading and thanks for following along with my journey. I would not be where I am today without the constant love and support from each of you!!!
In Him,
Caleb
PS In case you were wondering I’m not sick anymore!
