Liam Payne died searching for recognition. It can only come from God

The tragic death of One Direction’s teen pop sensation reminds us that fame and fortune cannot meet our deepest human needs, says Tony Wilson. That can only come from being fully known by Jesus

The family, friends and fans of Liam Payne are reeling from the news of his sudden, tragic and senseless death last week.

On the surface, we have another story of a life cut woefully short and a star struggling to cope with money and fame. It is a truly difficult place to find oneself at such a young age. Having more money than most of us see in a lifetime while surrounded by people whose only goal is to ride the wave of your celebrity status is a toxic mix.

Payne, a talented, gentle and kind character by all accounts, seemingly spent his final hours in some distress. Reports of him searching his hotel lobby for anyone who could validate him as a star are heartbreakingly reminiscent of a universal longing that we can all relate to, along with many other performers whose song lyrics ache with the same sentiment; a need to be genuinely loved.