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No doubt like me, many of you are disappointed that England’s Lionesses failed to win the Women’s Football World Cup 2023! But what a wonderful tournament it has been, and what excitement! Who can forget Chloe Kelly’s incredible winning penalty strike against Nigeria which at 69 mph was more powerful than any goal scored in the Premier League last season – or young Lauren James announcing herself on the world stage with 2 wonderful goals against China and an incredible strike against Denmark – or finally Mary Earps’ sensational penalty save against Spain in the Final which rightfully won her the ‘golden glove’ award and confirmed her place as one of the world’s top female goalkeepers admired by millions (whatever Nike might say by not producing a copy of her shirt for fans to buy). Not forgetting the rest of the team who all did so very well under the wonderful management of Sarina Wiegman. It’s such a shame that the final proved to be ‘one game too far’, but their skill and dedication has brought us all a lot of joy and entertainment over the last few days and we can as a nation take great pride in what they have accomplished, and they have certainly inspired many other ‘little boys and girls’ to play football and be the ‘lions and lionesses’ of the future.

However, we all know that it is the possibility of winning or losing which makes football and so many other sports, so enthralling. It is embracing the idea and stepping up to the challenge which makes sport such a wonderful metaphor for the stresses and strains and challenges of life. It’s been 57 years since England last won the football world cup and perhaps for many it may seem like we will never win it, but still it’s a challenge which inspires.

The Christian will know that when it comes to earning our place in heaven, we are all doomed to fail, because as frail, fallen, sinful human beings we can never make the grade or live up to God’s standards – we have all fallen short! (Romans 3.23) But fortunately, God’s love for us means that we are not abandoned or left to our own devices; God steps into the world in the person of Jesus Christ, so that he might take upon himself all the terrible consequences of our fallen nature by dying for us upon a cross. His death paid the price of our sins and so now we can enjoy a new forgiven life and a new relationship with God when we put our faith and trust in him. The Apostle Paul sums it up so well, when he says ‘forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3.12-14).

So, let’s be thankful for all that Christ has accomplished, and like England’s lionesses, pick ourselves up and grab that second chance ‘to go again’.      

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But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15.57