Steroids, HGH, Pettitte, and Forgiveness

I don’t know, Major League Pitcher, Andy Pettitte.  But, I prayed for him this afternoon.

Pettitte professes to be a Christian, so when I learned today that the Mitchell report identified him as a player who used human growth hormone (HGH), I was particularly disappointed for him, his family, and his fans.  No one was surprised that Bond’s name shows up over 100 times.  Clemens is named as well.  I don’t know what I think about that.

Call me “naive,” but, I didn’t expect Pettitte’s name to be in the .pdf file that George Mitchell published.

So, while there are a lot of players to pray for in the report, and certainly we should pray first for so many young people influenced by major leaguers, I decided to take a moment to pray for Andy Pettitte in a major league way.  By the time most read this, I plan to have prayed this prayer on my knees.

 Our Father in Heaven, I lift up to you today, Andy Pettitte.  I don’t know him.  But, I can picture his eyes looking out over the top of his glove before he makes a pitch.   And, I know that he professes faith in you. 

Lord, I pray that he has a pastor to call who will walk through this valley with him.

Lord,  I pray that there are Christians close to him who give him a hug and make the experience of your love more real.

I pray that if the accusations are false, that his name would be cleared.

I pray that if his mistakes took place over a relatively short period of time, that those details would come out. . . even as the report seems to indicate.

I pray that, if he is guilty, that he would be reminded of Proverbs 28:13 – – that he who conceals his sin will not prosper, but the one who confesses them finds mercy.  If he is guilty, I pray that he would find wise people to help him craft a careful statement that takes complete ownership.

I pray that he will understand that forgiveness is not “unpacked” in a moment . . . that forgiveness happens both in a moment (at the point when we take ownership and repent) and over time.  In many ways, forgiveness is like moving a family.  The truck pulls up on a particular date, and loads everything up.  But, it takes a long time to unpack all the boxes in the basement.

I pray that he would be convicted of the responsibility he has to fans – – especially to young people tempted to use steroids or other banned substances – – and that he would use this opportunity to share his repentance in a Cross-centered way with fans.

I pray that he would know that you esteem those who are humble and contrite in spirit and tremble at your Word (Isaiah 66:1-2).

I pray that you would protect him from despair . . .from vicious accusations from the evil one that all that he has done and stood for is for nothing.

Most of all, I pray that he would be Cross-centered  – – that he would focus on your Son who died on the Cross to pay the penalty for the sins of his people – – that he would know and experience your love (Ephesians 3:14-19) – – that your mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23) – -and that for those who know You, so far as east is from west, You have removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:11-12).