Author: Kevin Burrell

One of the greatest Major League hitters set the record for strikeouts with 1,330. The same player set a record for five consecutive strikeouts in a World Series game. The holder of both records was the great “Sultan of Swat,” Babe Ruth. Babe famously said, “Every strikeout brings me closer to the next home run. So never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.”

And so it is in life. There are moments when we feel like we’ve completely blown it. Ever been there? I have. We strike out over and over again. We choose to sin, make poor decisions, and find ourselves in situations where the consequences of our actions leave us broken and ashamed, feeling worthless or hopeless. Then we wonder if we can ever recover from the damage we’ve caused—if God can ever forgive us or if there’s any chance of being restored and used by Him again.

However, the beautiful truth of the gospel is this: no matter how far we’ve fallen or how badly we’ve failed, God is still the God of restoration. Joel 2:25 is a powerful reminder. God promises:

“I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts.”

Did you catch that? Don’t miss it! The people of Israel had experienced devastating loss because of their rebellion and sin. However, when they repented and turned back to God, He promised to restore all that had been destroyed.

In the same way, when we come to Jesus in repentance, we are not met with condemnation (Romans 8:1) but with mercy. Repentance is not just “feeling bad” or remorseful for what we’ve done; it’s doing an about-face. It’s turning away from our sin and turning back to God. It’s seeing our sin the way God sees it. And the moment we do, God doesn’t just forgive us—He restores us. Just like the Israelites, who lost everything to the locusts, God promises to rebuild the areas of our lives that have been wrecked or shattered by sin and disobedience.

Listen closely: restoration may not always look like a quick or immediate fix. It usually isn’t. It will take time for trust to be rebuilt, for wounds to heal, or for relationships to be mended. However, God, in His mercy and grace, will bring healing to every broken area of your life. He will redeem your mistakes, using the worst failures of your life as part of His greater plan (Romans 8:28). He is writing your story. He will take your “mess” and turn it into your greatest “message.”

If you feel like you’ve blown it—if you feel there is no hope—if your life has been impacted by your failures, disobedience, and poor choices, take heart! God is in the business of turning brokenness into beauty. He offers forgiveness, hope, and healing when you come to Him with a humble, broken, and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17).

Listen, there is nothing you’ve done or ever will do that can put you beyond the reach of the amazing love and grace God has for you. Confess your failures. Repent by turning away from your sin and walking back to God. Then watch!

Watch as God “gives you back what the swarming locusts have eaten.”

It started like so many evenings: Mom and Dad at home, and their son Jimmy playing outside after dinner. Each parent was absorbed in their tasks and didn’t notice the time slipping by. Jimmy’s mom glanced at the clock.

“Jimmy, it’s time to come in and get ready for bed.”

Jimmy went straight to his room. An hour or so later, Jimmy’s mother walked upstairs to check on him. To her astonishment, she found her son staring quietly out of his window at the moonlit scenery.

“What are you doing, Jimmy?”

“I’m looking at the moon, Mom.”

“Well, it’s time to go to sleep now.”

As Jimmy settled down, he said, “Mom, you know, one day I’m going to walk on that moon.”

Who could have known that the boy in whom the dream was planted that night would survive a near-fatal motorcycle crash that broke nearly every bone in his body? Yet, 32 years later, Jimmy Irwin brought that dream to fruition when he stepped onto the moon’s surface, one of just 12 representatives of the human race to have done so. Jimmy Irwin didn’t just have “eyesight”; he had “vision.”

The New Year has arrived. In reality, we often look back on the year behind us. Reflecting on the past is important; however, it is equally vital to look forward with vision, not just eyesight. Eyesight is the ability to see what is, but vision is the ability to see what could be through God’s purpose for your life.

Without vision, our lives can feel aimless, and our efforts futile. Vision brings clarity, direction, and a sense of purpose that empowers us to live intentionally. This New Year, let us not only walk into 2025 with open eyes but also with a clear vision inspired by God.

As you plan and prepare for 2025, carve out time to develop goals and action steps in key areas of your life:

1. Spiritual: Deepen your relationship with God. Set goals to spend more time in prayer, study His Word, and seek His guidance. Perhaps commit to reading through the Bible in 2025, journaling your prayers daily, or joining a weekly discipleship group.

2. Relational: Invest in the relationships God has given you. Reconcile broken ones, nurture your family, and foster friendships that encourage spiritual growth and accountability. Set a goal to regularly connect with loved ones or serve in your community.

3. Physical: Honor God with your body. Set attainable health goals, such as eating more balanced meals, exercising or walking regularly, and prioritizing rest. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Don’t abuse it (1 Corinthians 6:19).

4. Financial: Be a faithful steward of your resources. Develop a budget (save some, spend some, give some), work toward becoming debt-free, increase your giving to your church, and bless those who are in need. Trust God to provide what you need as you commit your finances to Him.

5. Occupational: Pursue excellence in your work. Whether you’re working in a corporate career, coaching, pro scouting, raising a family, or serving in ministry, ask God to help you align your efforts with His plan to glorify Him in all you do.

Listen Closely: Once your goals and action steps are written down for 2025, bring them before God in prayer. Ask for His wisdom to guide you, His strength to sustain you, and His blessings to multiply your efforts. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your action steps to the Lord, and He will establish your plans.”

Let your vision be rooted in His will and not merely in your desires. Surrender each goal, knowing that His plans are always better than your own. Trust that He will lead you into the abundant life He has promised (John 10:10).

This New Year, I challenge you to step boldly into your God-given vision with Jesus as your guide. Because having “eyesight” without “vision” is futile.

Blessings in 2025!

Have you ever been excited about attending or hosting a party, eagerly looking forward to it? What if the party didn’t turn out as expected? Maybe the “party poopers” in attendance ruined the entire atmosphere. In a similar way, this is the picture we see when we look at Jesus and the “killjoy” Pharisees.

In Matthew 15:7–9, Jesus pulls no punches in addressing the Pharisees, the “Religious Elite” of His day. He exposes them as “hypocrites,” pointing out that, while they outwardly appear pious, inwardly their hearts are far from God. These Pharisees had taken man-made rules and traditions and elevated them to the status of divine commands, burdening people with requirements that God never intended. Their worship had become hollow, and their teachings were more about control than fostering intimate fellowship with the Lord. Ever been around people like that? I certainly have—and they set the “chin-up bar” impossibly high.

The reality is that legalism is still alive and well today. It often creeps into Christian communities or churches, camouflaged as “well-meaning advice” or “moral guidance.” It dictates how we should parent, dress, worship, eat, drink, and spend our money. At its worst, it transforms someone’s personal convictions into a universal standard for righteousness. However, Jesus calls us to a different path—one that prioritizes relationship over religion and heart transformation over external compliance.

Listen closely: Every day, you’re bombarded with advice and opinions, even from within the church or from well-meaning friends. Some are helpful, rooted in Scripture, and lead us closer to God. Others are merely “man-made rules” and religious “do’s and don’ts” that reflect personal preferences rather than biblical truth. These are the “killjoys.” It’s essential to evaluate any instruction through the lens of God’s Word.

Ask yourself three important questions:

• Does this align with God’s Word?
• Does it draw me closer to Jesus?
• Does it reflect God’s character?

“Rules without relationship lead to rebellion!”

Jesus didn’t come to burden you with endless rules; He came to set you free (John 8:36). That freedom doesn’t mean living however you please or without boundaries. Not at all! It means living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, not under the weight of man-made rules and expectations. When your heart is aligned with God’s, obedience flows naturally—not as a heavy burden, but as a joyful response to His love.

Be a person who honors God with your heart, not just your lips. Seek His truth above the noise of opinions, and extend grace to others, knowing that their journey with Christ may look different from yours.

Avoid the Legalistic Killjoys!

Professional baseball scouts get paid for their opinions regarding potential future Major League Baseball prospects they are scouting. They cannot waver. They cannot waffle. They cannot ride the fence. They cannot remain silent. They must make a decision and be convicted about their decision—who they like, who they want to draft, and why they want to draft them. It’s been said, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way,” and I’ll add: don’t waver!

In a similar way, every day presents us with choices—choices big and small—and choices that reveal who we’ll follow. Elijah’s challenge to the people of Israel strikes at the very heart of making a decision. Will we wholeheartedly follow the Lord, or will we follow the ways of the world? There is no middle ground. There is no riding the fence. The world may tempt us with comfort, success, power, and approval; however, God calls us to unwavering devotion and bold faith.

The Israelites had seen God’s power, yet they hesitated to fully commit to Him. They wanted the blessings of God without the responsibility of following Him exclusively. How often do we do the same? In our workplaces, we compromise our integrity to gain favor and position. On our teams, we shrink back from sharing our faith out of fear of ridicule and judgment. In the marketplace, we prioritize material gain over eternal treasures. Wavering leads to silence, just as it did for the people in Elijah’s time. When we hesitate to choose God, we lose our voice, our conviction, our influence, and our witness.

Listen Closely: Following God isn’t confined to Sunday mornings; it’s an everyday commitment that touches every aspect of life. In the workplace, it means doing your work with excellence and integrity, as unto the Lord and not unto man (Colossians 3:23). On your team, it means standing firm in your convictions, morals, and values—even if it’s unpopular. In the marketplace, it means treating others with patience, kindness, goodness, and gentleness, which reflect the character of Christ.

Just as Elijah boldly confronted the Israelites, God is asking you today: “How much longer will you waver?” “How much longer will you ride the fence?” Choosing Him requires bold faith, but it also leads to life, peace, and purpose.

Let today be the day you decide once and for all to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, boldly, and without wavering or hesitation—in every area of your life.

Have you ever faced rejection? Maybe from people you know or don’t know? Rejection can come in many forms: the sting of divorce or unreciprocated love, not getting that job or promotion, family disputes, professional setbacks, athletic challenges, team cuts, or rejection by teammates or coaches. Rejection can hurt. However, just as Jesus did not allow rejection to stop Him, we too are called to persist in our life’s mission. Here are a few reflections to consider:

Rejection Is Not the End!

Like Jesus, we must understand that rejection, though painful, is not the conclusion of our story. Does it sting? Yes! However, it’s a chapter, not the book. God is writing your story—don’t steal His pen.

Keep Your Focus!

Jesus kept His eyes on the mission His Father set before Him. He didn’t waver, waffle, get distracted, or quit. When we face rejection, we should realign our focus on our life’s purpose, ensuring that our actions align with our values and calling.

Perseverance Is Key!

Jesus persevered. He didn’t relent. His own town rejected Him. Okay, so be it. He moved right on to the next town, Capernaum. He persevered and stayed on mission. We must exercise the same resilience. Whether it’s in our relationships, careers, ministry, or personal growth, perseverance in the face of rejection builds character and opens new doors of opportunity.

Live on Mission!

Our lives are meant to impact and influence others, making disciples who make disciples—not just through our words, but through our actions and responses to life’s challenges, including rejection. Don’t get sidetracked. Don’t throw in the towel. Live on mission!

God’s Approval Is Paramount!

Sometimes we believe that if we witness flawlessly or live right, everyone will like us. Not so. If they rejected Jesus, we can expect to be rejected sometimes too. Stop second-guessing yourself. Instead of focusing on what others think, seek to follow what the Lord has called you to do, and let the chips fall where they may. You have an audience of One. Remain obedient and seek His approval only.

Let this passage encourage you to press on. Rejection is inevitable, but it does not have to be a barrier to your purpose. Allow each instance of rejection to teach you, shape you, mold you, grow you, and propel you forward in your faith. Know that you are never alone, and your mission remains clear: live a life that reflects love, resilience, and steadfast faith in God’s plan for your life.