This past summer on June 7, Eugenio Suarez, a rookie with the Detroit Tigers, got his first major league hit playing at home against the Boston Red Sox.

A first major league hit has to be exciting. What made Suarez’ hit all the more exciting was that it was also a home run.

He. Knocked. It. Outta there.

I am a loyal baseball fan. Even though my team (Go Tigers!) didn’t make it to the World Series, I still enjoyed those seven games between the Giants and the Royals.

Ball players step up to the plate and settle into their stance. They concentrate on their form, digging their feet into the ground beneath them. There’s no guarantee they’ll get a hit. But they keep stepping up to the plate.

It’s true for any endeavor in life. Whether we’re trying a new recipe, attempting to ski for the first time, or putting limits on our children and doling out consequences. We may not even hit the ball into fair territory. We might strike out. Yet, we continue to step up to the plate.

We keep cooking meals. Skiing may actually become our favorite sport. Eventually, we’ll get it right with the kids more often than not.

If we compare life to a baseball game, are you believing that taking risks and trusting God will pay off in home runs?

Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9, 10)

He also used a parable of a widow to show us we should always be persistent in prayer. (Luke 18: 1-8)

Home runs won’t happen every time we step up to the plate, but even Eugenio Suarez knew the history he’d made. His first hit being a home run was the first time that had happened in major league play since 1974.

Forty years is a long time, but I think we can be reassured it won’t take that long for our hits to go out of the ballpark. We’ll round those bases, stepping on home plate to resounding cheers.

The idea is to keep getting up there. Keep believing you’ll make a hit. Because in reality, with God as your “coach,” you will.