When Maggie stepped into the batter's box, she already had two strikes. One more would put her on the bench. She glanced at the stands. Her foster mom wasn't there. Maggie sighed. Her team chanted, "Two-strike hitter, don't be a quitter!" The pitch came in fast, and Maggie connected, sending the softball past the outfield.
Softball took her mind off everything. When she got back home, her social worker was out front holding a bag with all Maggie's belongings. Oh no, I forgot! I'm moving today. She forced her feet to keep walking. Ever since Dad died, it was one foster home after another.
After several months in her new house, Maggie saw a Bible lying open on her foster mom's desk. The words "I love the Lord because He hears my voice" jumped out at Maggie. "He doesn't hear my voice," she said out loud.
Alice, Maggie's foster mom, came in and asked, "Who doesn't hear you, honey?"
"Jesus doesn't. When Mom left, Dad told me to pray. When Dad got sick, I prayed. Now they're both gone."
Alice put a soft hand on Maggie's shoulder. "You play softball--I did too. Do you ever cheer, ‘Two-strike hitter…'"
"‘Don't be a quitter!'" Maggie answered. "I'm a quitter at asking God for anything."
Alice tapped the Bible. "Look at this psalm--Psalm 116. This man had pain and death all around him. He said he was brought low, but God heard him. Think--when your mom left, who was still with you?"
"Dad." Maggie paused. "And Jesus. And when Dad was sick, he told me that because Jesus died for me, I could trust Him even in hard times."
Alice nodded. "Psalm 27 says that even if your mother and father are gone, the Lord will care for you. The Lord is taking care of you, Maggie. He sent you here, and we love you. We prayed for you before you came--and we're praying for your mom too. We don't know what she'll do. But we know what Jesus will do."
"He'll hear my voice?"
"Yes, He always hears you. Praying gives you a deeper friendship with God. When it comes to prayer, be that two-strike hitter, Maggie."
Maggie grinned. "I won't be a quitter."
–Laura Roesler
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you ever feel like you’re striking out with God when you pray? Don’t give up. Even when it seems like God isn’t listening, He hears your prayers. He cares about your tears and your worries. He wants to hear what you have to say. Even if other people leave you, Jesus never will. He died and rose again so you could have a relationship with Him forever. Keep praying—He’s listening.
TODAY'S KEY VERSE: Psalm 116:2 (KJV)
Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! (NLT)