God's design: Grant Desme

The plans of the heart belong to man,

but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. -- Proverbs 16:1

Grant Desme has more physical talent than most of us could ever dream of. God gave him excellent speed, strength, and willpower to harness it in sports. Grant Desme could go back to baseball today and be ranked among the league's top 100 prospects. For those of you who don't know, Grant Desme is the former As prospect who quit baseball after an amazing 2009 minor league season to join the priesthood.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

but the LORD weighs the spirit. -- Proverbs 16:2

Many people who read about this are simply confounded; why would such an amazing athlete simply walk away to become a priest? Why would anyone want to abandon such fame and money to live a life of subservience? Why can't he stay in baseball and still be a man of God? Why doesn't he try to find a way to use his abilities in conjunction with his faith? The answer for Grant came down to God's design. Grant said, among other things, that he "aspires to higher things." He says he has no regrets, and that having such an amazing season as he did only strengthened his desire to follow God in the priesthood. He felt that the rush of exceeding at such a high level, yet still feeling God tugging him to work elsewhere, finally made him realize that God had other plans for him.

Commit your work to the LORD,

and your plans will be established. -- Proverbs 16:3

What this comes down to for Grant and us is that we have to pray relentlessly and earnestly for God to show us what he wants for us. While it may seem convenient to try and find a way to serve God in baseball, that may not be what God has for us. Only he who has given us life can explain what he wants us to do with it. We weren't saved because we are amazing people who God needs to use; we were saved because we were desperate for God's hand to save us from ourselves. If God is telling you to re-evaluate your life's course and follow him in a drastic manner, then the only answer you can give is "Yes."

The heart of man plans his way,

but the LORD establishes his steps. -- Proverbs 16:9