Staying in Sync with God: Reflections on Faith, Life’s Trials, and the Comfort of His Presence

The last 30 days have been a mix of joy, grief, anxiousness, gratitude, and peace.

I have dedicated my prayers to three open heart surgeries, including my brother’s and two dear friends. Surgeries are always a risk. It’s a low risk, but it’s there. “The mortality rate for open heart surgery varies depending on the type of surgery and the patient’s health. A recent study found the 30-day mortality rate for adults with congenital heart defects was 1.9%.”*

Two surgeries went exceptionally well, and I am very thankful. Another dear friend will have his next week. My prayers continue.

The NBSI (Network of Biblical Storytellers) Conference also went exceptionally well. Telling Bible stories changes people’s lives. Instead of reading them, they bring scripture to life and transform the hearts of those who hear them. With so much division in our faith communities, it is a balm to my soul that we come together from all different denominations to worship, deeply dive into understanding Bible stories from the original Greek and Hebrew, and then share them.

I came home to a dear friend and colleague’s passing from her long fight with cancer. Suzanne and I have worked together for over 25 years. When we both retired, we stayed in touch. She joined my book group via Zoom once, and I visited her about a year ago. Her two sons and daughter put together a beautiful testimony of photos set to music. I cried tears of joy and sadness. She loved and was loved. Her faith saw her through even the most trying times. There is no better testimony of a life well lived.

How do we stay in sync with God? How do we endure life’s highs, lows, and anxiousness? One of my recent readings was John 14:20.

On that day, you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

You are in me, and I am in you.

I cling to these words every day.

It reminded me of a presentation I was doing with my boss. We introduced a new way of doing business to the entire national senior team, including the CEO. It was a prestigious group.

Part of the presentation involved having an account manager testify to the success of our idea. After my boss and I introduced the concept, she was to speak next. There was a break in between, and she said, “I can’t do this. This is a room full of VIPS. I will make a fool of myself. I don’t know if I can get through this.”

I sat with her and said, “This is not about you. This is about the sixty people who report to you, who’ve worked hard and done so much to make this new idea work. And they are so proud of it. You are not here by yourself. You are representing them. Would you let them down?”

She got up and stole the show. She spoke eloquently, saying, “I wasn’t going to do this, but then someone reminded me this is about my team, and I am representing them.”

I must remember that I am representing Jesus and all the disciples who gave up their lives to start Christianity. If people can’t see that in me, I need to learn my lessons better. Jesus’ words will help us, whether on top of life or at the bottom. Making time for a daily devotion, reading books, gathering with others in church or a prayer group, or an organization like NBSI—many things can help us remember that we need to reflect light, His light.

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

 “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. John 14: 21-22.

May we lean into these lessons and make room for them in our hearts, minds, and actions.

How do you stay in sync with God?

*Columbia University Department of Surgery