Player Profile: Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton may be the most well publicized name in Christian athletes today. He's had a Sports Illustrated cover story, numerous interviews, and his behavior is scrutinized by both media and organization alike to make sure he doesn't slip. Day after day he proves that he has been refined like silver and gives all glory to God. For those who are unaware, the story of Josh Hamilton is almost too well scripted to be true.

He was the number one overall pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999. He amazed scouts with his effortless power and "No-Ceiling" athleticism. Like most young kids who are athletically gifted, Hamilton was unprepared for life as a professional athlete. He signed for a staggering $4 million up front, and was tossed into the waters just like every other prospect. He did reasonably well his first year, reaching the Sally league (High-A ball) in ample time, and seemed to be working his way towards his destiny. In 2001, though, tragedy struck. He was in a car accident with his parents, and his injury left him unable to play for a period of time. Unprepared for life away from home and without baseball to fall back on, Hamilton began escaping into drugs.

Hamilton had troubles all over, he was an addict, his wife couldn't rely on him, and he felt like a failure. To try and set things straight, he started small. While attending rehab, he worked at a baseball academy in Florida, surrounded by men who loved him and cared for him, and taught him about God. Hamilton attributes a lot of his turn around to the godly men in his life who cared for him because he was a man who needed love; not because he was a great athlete. Within a couple years, Hamilton was in the major leagues threatening for the Triple Crown and carrying teams on his back for stretches.

Every interview Hamilton gives, he is quick to give up all of the credit to Jesus. When Harold Reynolds told him that he really was Roy Hobbs (a reference to The Natural,) Hamilton quickly corrected him and said "It's a God thing." In every interview, Hamilton raves on and on about Jesus, and seems almost flabbergasted as to how much God has taken care of him when he had done so little to deserve such help. Hamilton lives by James 4:7 these days:

Humble yourself before God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Hamilton has truly learned what its like to humble himself before God. He was given great talent, skill, and a platform to preach, but he needed God to help him before he could put any of it to use. God is the creator, and the giver of talent-he wants to help you use it. The devil tempts us at every turn, but God wants to help us resist him. If we are able to resist temptation by invoking God's name and power, the devil will have no choice but to flee before such awesome power.

So what do we learn from Josh Hamilton's story? Giving ourselves to God means giving ourselves to a purpose. Jesus didn't make disciples so that they could simply acknowledge him and go on with their lives; he did so because he wanted strong followers who could prove to the world the power and love of God. If we feel the world is beating us, all we need to do is remember that God loves us, and is using circumstances that we have put ourselves in to make us stronger and more confident in him. Be confident in what God has done in your life; he has done and will do awesome works through you. Prove to the world that God loves through your actions, and God will bless your endeavors.