Mike Trout’s recent 2018 slump, when he had gone hitless for 19 at-bats, was nothing new in MLB history. The Los Angeles star outfielder faced the worst slump in his career, but it didn’t last like most slumps. It’s not uncommon for many baseball players to have slumps or cycles when they go hitless. The Yankee slugger Lou Gehrig went 0-for-20 during the 1936 season before turning things around and winning his second MVP award. He finished the season batting 354/.478/.696 with 49 homers. Despite the slump, he posted an all-time greatest season!

2 Samuel 24 – Cycle of Consequences

The last chapter of 2 Samuel is another slump for David and the nation of Israel, who had been blessed by God only to have it removed because of sin. There were many slumps in David’s relationship with God throughout his life. He would go from worshipping God to sin, repentance, and back to worshipping God. Second Samuel closes with David’s example of sacrifice as a display of his worship toward God. He acknowledged everything is God’s.

It is essential to understand that David alone was responsible for his sins. The book of James shows this: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:13–15). David made one wrong decision, which led to another bad decision and another—and the result was the death of many innocent men.

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete refuse to slump into a downward spiral of sin. They understand the good news! God offers grace to cover their sin and the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin and help them avoid it.

Bible Memory Verse – “And you shall keep the responsibility given by Yahweh your God, to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, according to what is written in the Law of Moses, that you may be prosperous in all that you do and wherever you turn.” 1 Kings 2:3 (LSB)