A Reminder of God's Love

The other day I got some very sad news that one of my club soccer coaches had suddenly passed away due to a heart attack. This was very shocking and unexpected news as my coach was a healthy middle aged man and father to 3 children. Just as any sudden death, the first reaction you have is pure disbelief. How could God call someone so healthy to heaven so early? How can God leave a family so broken and destroyed? These questions are the ones that keep me up at night. These questions are the ones that only God Himself can answer. But above all, these questions are the exact reason faith in Jesus Christ exists. It's times of turmoil that test our faith. It's these times in which we need to rely and trust in God more than ever.

I've had my coach and his family in my mind nonstop the past few days and it really got me thinking about the bigger things in life. It's so unfortunate that something so heartbreaking has to be the thing that wakes us up from our daily routine of life, but we don't get control over certain parts of life. This news reminded me how precious each and every day is. It reminded me that we need to live each day to the fullest because we have no idea when it could be our last. It also reminded me that we need to treat others with kindness always because who knows if your most recent interaction with a person could be your last. I understand these thoughts are rather morbid, and by no means should we live in fear of death, but sudden deaths such as my coach are real and how we react to them can change your life. There is sickness, death, and evil in the world and we can’t ever get rid of it all, but we can trust in God's plan for each of us. God will give us battles, God will give us hardship, but God will never leave us through any of it. Certain parts of life are truly a mystery but as Christians, we know for a fact one thing is not a mystery, and that is the power of God's love. God's love conquers all.

This week I ask that you please keep my coach’s family and friends in your prayers. I also encourage you to do some self reflecting this week to become more loving and compassionate towards all people you may encounter. Our world can really use more love and prayer right now, and with God there is an endless amount of love waiting for you whenever you make the choice to ask for it.