12.23.25

I’ve heard it said, “The most common phrase in heaven will be ‘of course’. In heaven, every question we’ve ever asked and every doubt we’ve ever had will be given a perfect answer.” 

I think God likes to give us little “of course” moments on this side of eternity as a little glimpse into what’s to come. I want to tell you about one of those moments in my life.

On June 19, 2022, I was in Red Bank, NJ for the Maverick Showtime recruiting event for high school lacrosse. As a lacrosse coach on the recruiting trail, trips like this one could be lonely because I often traveled alone, stayed in hotels alone, ate meals alone, and watched games all day quietly by myself. 

That night in Red Bank was no different. I drove my rental car into down town Red Bank, which is a quaint little shore town, and ate dinner by myself. It was a beautiful summer night, so I got some ice cream and walked down by the water to watch the sunset. I even took a picture (that’s how I remember the exact day – thanks Apple). 

At the time I was 27 and single. I had a strong desire to meet a girl and often doubted God or wondered what he was doing with my dating life. I wanted someone to spend nights, kind of like the one I was having in Red Bank, with. So as I sat on that bench and watched the sunset, I prayed. I prayed for my future wife. I prayed for patience. I prayed that God would help prepare me. 

A few chapters later, I’m dating a New Jersey girl named Jayne, and one day I’m scrolling through pictures on my phone and I came across that photo of the sunset from the bench in Red Bank. I showed the picture to Jayne and proudly told her I prayed for her on that bench three years ago on June 19th, 2022. She paused, then said, “WAIT!” Jayne proceeded to pull up a photo of her and some friends out to dinner in Red Bank, NJ. The date of the photo… June 19, 2022. 

Of course. 

Three years before we met, as I was praying for my future wife, she was one hundred yards away. On top of that, I found out Jayne was born in Red Bank and the hospital overlooks the pier I was sitting on. As I think about everything God has done in my life between that day and this one, I’m amazed. He truly has been working out a perfect plan for my life – not always an easy plan or a straight and narrow plan, but a plan form fitted for me. Now, Jayne and I are getting married this week, and the best is yet to come.

Of course.

God must love to give us hope for heaven. He uses little “of course” moments to ensure us when we doubt or question, he is working. We don’t always get an immediate answer, but God reminds us one day he will answer every question and bring clarity to every doubt. And we’ll say…

“Of course!”

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” – 1 Corinthians 13:12