"God, Is This the End?" How God Saved My Son
- Beto Gudino
- Jul 27
- 4 min read
How a Father’s Cry Unleashed a Miracle of Hope
At ChristianPodcast.com, we recently welcomed Colby Richards, host of the Ovrcome podcast (spelled O-V-R-C-O-M-E, not "Overcome"), for a heartfelt conversation about faith, resilience, and purpose. Colby’s journey, marked by a life-changing experience with his son’s medical emergency, has fueled his mission to help others find hope and practical tools to navigate life’s challenges. Below, we dive into the key moments from our episode, sharing Colby’s insights on trusting God, recognizing His voice, and living a purpose-driven life.
A Father’s Faith in Crisis
Colby’s story centers on a terrifying moment when he received a call that his 12-year-old son, Gabriel, had suffered a severe accident on the playground. Diagnosed with a heart condition, Gabriel’s collapse was unexpected. As Colby raced to the school, learning paramedics were attempting to resuscitate his son, he turned to God, asking, “Is this the end?” He felt an undeniable peace and heard God’s voice assure him, “No, it’s not.”
“I just asked God, as simple as it could be, ‘Is this the end? Is this it?’ And I felt undeniably God say to me, ‘No, it’s not.’ And I immediately just felt this peace wash over me in a moment when it made no sense.” – Colby Richards
This divine reassurance sustained Colby and his wife as they prayed over Gabriel, who was revived and airlifted to Seattle Children’s Hospital. Despite the grim reality—Gabriel in a medically induced coma, intubated, and battling a severe concussion—Colby held fast to God’s promise. Gabriel’s recovery, praised as a “model case” due to the school’s response and a skilled nurse’s CPR, was a testament to God’s faithfulness.
The Birth of Ovrcome Podcast
Gabriel’s ordeal was a turning point for Colby, igniting a sense of obligation to share stories of resilience. This led to the creation of his Ovrcome podcast, a platform dedicated to helping people move beyond challenges with hope and actionable tools.
“It’s not just hope because hope’s just an idea, but giving them the tools to help them actually truly overcome and live a more fulfilled life.” – Colby Richards
Colby’s podcast features stories like that of Eric BS, a former NFL player who went from stardom to sweeping floors, only to rise again through mentorship and perseverance. By sharing such narratives, Colby inspires listeners to see struggles as opportunities for growth, emphasizing that consistency and community can break through even the toughest seasons.
Hearing God’s Voice in the Storm
A key theme of Colby’s story is recognizing God’s voice amid chaos. He describes the moment in his car when God’s assurance felt “just shy of an audible voice,” bringing peace despite uncertainty. Colby attributes this clarity to a relationship with God built through prayer, stillness, and Scripture.
“You can’t know God if you’re not willing to be still… In those moments of prayer, learning to just be quiet, remove ourselves from the hustle and bustle… you develop an awareness of when that voice is speaking to you.” – Colby Richards
For Colby, prayer is a two-way conversation, not a wish list. He encourages listeners to honor God, thank Him, and listen, trusting His voice will guide them, whether through a clear word or a subtle sense of peace.
Faith When Outcomes Differ
The conversation also addressed the tough question of what happens when prayers don’t yield the desired outcome. Colby shared a profound perspective: faith isn’t about changing external circumstances but transforming the individual.
“Our faith doesn’t necessarily change the external circumstances… Sometimes our faith and our prayers are more about changing who we are.” – Colby Richards
He likened prayer to asking God to change a chair’s color, only to realize God’s plan was to accept it as it is. This trust in God’s sovereignty, even when outcomes are painful, echoes the biblical story of Abraham’s obedience with Isaac, where faith meant trusting God regardless of the result.
Tools for Overcoming
Colby’s Ovrcome podcast isn’t exclusively faith-based, but his Christian worldview shines through. He meets people where they are, offering practical tools to navigate challenges:
Discover Your Purpose: Colby defines purpose as “the best of what I have to offer in service of others.” Understanding this helps people set goals and create a roadmap out of stagnation.
Reframe Failure: Failure is only permanent if you stop trying. Colby encourages persistence, reminding listeners that a bad day doesn’t define their journey.
Build Community: Surrounding yourself with uplifting people is crucial. Colby advises seeking those who call out your greatness, not drag you down, emphasizing that isolation hinders progress.
“Surround yourself with people who call out the greatness in you… We become most like those people we surround ourselves with.” – Colby Richards
Parenting with Purpose
Colby’s experience has shaped how he speaks to his children, especially Gabriel, who lives with a heart condition and a defibrillator. He encourages them to focus on what they can do, not their limitations, and to put God first.
“I try more than anything to get them to focus on what you can do, not on what they can’t do… Put God first in everything.” – Colby Richards
Using the metaphor of a bike rider avoiding a rock by focusing on the path, Colby teaches his kids to keep their eyes on God’s plan and their purpose, trusting He will guide them around life’s obstacles.
A Call to Trust
Colby’s journey from a playground crisis to launching Ovrcome reminds us to trust God’s plan and take intentional steps toward purpose. His story inspires us to seek God’s voice and lean on community, knowing that even in hardship, we can overcome. Connect with Colby and explore his resources on the Ovrcome Podcast at Instagram.Listen to the full episode on ChristianPodcast.com and share how you’re overcoming challenges with faith!
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