“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
– John 3:16-17 (ESV)

Sometimes as coaches we find ourselves in a hopeless situation. Watching the final seconds tick off the clock and being on the wrong end of a 62-0 beatdown is one of those times. Trying to be positive as you prepare your vertically challenged basketball team to take on a team of giants does not inspire great optimism and hope. Being fearful for the safety of your infielders as your best pitcher is being lit up by your opponent makes you want to stay in the dugout when the game is over. Hopelessness is defined as “having no possibility of a solution.” We have all been there. One of the great things about sports is there is usually another game to play. As coaches we continue to care about our players, we stand with them in the tough times, and we never stop encouraging. As a team, we confidently keep working to improve with the hope that a new day will bring better results.

In our everyday lives we also find ourselves in seemingly hopeless situations. Illness, the loss of a loved one, unemployment, bankruptcy and loneliness are just a few that come to mind. Where can we find hope in the hopelessness of life? God is the solution! John 3:16 is one of the best-known verses in the Bible. It tells us God loves us and He always will. Love is just who God is! As the Master Coach, God will never abandon us. He is always with us, in the good times and the bad. Finally, God is for us. He is not out to get us or make us miserable. He is on our side, encouraging us to live our lives with purpose and meaning. Need some hope in your life today? Talk with God. He would love to hear from you.

Heavenly Father, You are our only hope. Teach us to give our all to You today. Thank You for loving us more than we could every imagine. In Jesus’ name, Amen.