The coach you can depend on

Have you ever thought about God as your coach? This was a new concept for my Christian Science Sunday School class of fourth-graders (10- and 11-year-olds). Through the years, I’ve found God to be the most reliable “coach” both on and off the field, and I wanted to share with them why every aspect of God’s nature makes that so. All of my students are involved in sports, so the analogy seemed to be a hit with them (no pun intended!).

They’ve probably figured out by now that not every person who will be coaching them in their sport is going to be a great coach. Whatever the case, we have one true coach in life who will never let us down: the infinite, divine presence we call God. We can always rely on our divine coach for instruction, guidance, and encouragement – even healing. This coach is always with us, lovingly watching over us, nurturing us, and seeing us as we really are.

There are many qualities we associate with a good coach. For instance, intelligence: a good coach is knowledgeable about their sport, offers solid instruction, and teaches skills that enable their players to grow and succeed.

A good coach also knows their players’ abilities, strengths, and talents, and places each player where they’ll be the happiest and most useful. But whereas a personal coach may also see weaknesses in us, God sees in us only perfection and strength because He created us in His image and likeness – meaning we are complete, not lacking in anything good, such as health, endurance, and skill.

A good coach also always has a good game plan. While God doesn’t outline our human lives for us, He is good and gives us only good. There are no failures or failing people on God’s “team” – and there is no other team! This coach has already outfitted us with whatever right ideas we need, and guides us through even the smallest challenges of life.

Another thing: A good coach would offer hope and encouragement. God, Love, knows exactly the message we need to hear to lift our hearts. When we’re doubting that we can do something or be healed of something, God’s love assures us that by sticking with Him and truly listening to His ideas and wise guidance, we can accomplish anything.

In fact, Christ Jesus said, “With God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). All things are possible. Jesus knew this better than anyone. Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer of Christian Science, explained that Jesus’ successes, or healings, were not miraculous events, but the normal, natural fulfillment of divine law. This law is as operative in the world today as it was 2,000 years ago.

This was illustrated to me in the healing of a recurring condition with my back. For many years I’d feel something in my back pop out of place when I was waterskiing, lifting heavy objects, or even sleeping in an awkward position. The pain was intense. Whenever this happened, I’d halfheartedly pray about it, but I would also discuss the problem with family and friends and seek advice on how to fix it.

After a week or so, the pain would recede, and I could resume my normal activities. Then I’d try to remember what I’d been doing to cause the back issue and avoid doing it again. But the next time I’d do anything strenuous, the same thing would occur.

Finally, I realized I was undermining my prayers by believing there was a cause for the condition and talking about it as though it were real. So I quit telling others about my latest problem and asking for advice. Instead, I began to really listen to what God was telling me about my identity. He created man and everything in the universe spiritually, and His creation is spiritual, perfect, and governed by spiritual rather than physical laws of health.

I mentally woke up to realize that this bodily disorder, which had seemed so real to me, was not actually the truth of my being. As a result, I had a complete healing of the back problem. That was over a decade ago. Now I ride horses, ski, and do heavy ranch chores without any problems.

In the years since, I’ve had many other healings by relying on God. With the best coach ever at our side, we can’t help but have victory after victory.

Adapted from an article published in the July 22, 2019, issue of the Christian Science Sentinel.

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