God's Coaching #141

God's Coaching #141

Josiah Viera loved baseball. The six-year-old’s one dream was to play the sport. The problem was Josiah’s disease, progeria. This rare condition caused Josiah’s body to function more like a 60- or 70-year-old’s. It was why the six-year-old boy was bald, only a little taller than two feet, and weighed 15 pounds. His body was wearing out about 10 times faster than normal. Only about 50 kids in the whole world have the disease, and most only live until they’re eight to 13 years old.

The disease had almost killed Josiah before he was two. He had lots of surgeries. Somehow he had miraculously survived. And the older he got, the more he wanted to play baseball. A local T-ball team heard about Josiah and let him come play a game with them. Josiah told the coach to pitch him the ball—he didn’t need the tee—and he hit it every time. Josiah was in heaven. He just didn’t want it to end.

On May 21, 2010, the Tri-Valley White Sox threw Josiah a surprise birthday party and invited him to be on their team for the rest of the season. The little slugger’s story spread, and 1,000 people showed up for Josiah’s last game. Afterward, they all lined up around the diamond, and Josiah high-fived every one of them. His mom said he was put here to touch people’s lives.

What’s the Score?

Josiah knew he wouldn’t live as long as most people. His greatest hope on earth was to play baseball. He also hoped for more when his life did end. When ESPN asked him what heaven looked like, Josiah answered, “Jesus.”

That’s the same hope we have—to one day see Jesus and know that the salvation he promised us comes true. The Bible says, “If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently” (Romans 8:24-25). Someday we’ll see God’s work in us completed. In the meantime, we give our faith and our life and our dreams—everything we have—to Jesus . . . just like Josiah did.

On the Ball

What do you hope for most? Give it to God. Ask him and trust him for it.

Coach’s Comment

We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) Romans 8:24-25