Daily Devotion

“Faith is not about finding a safe harbor, but about having a navigator to steady the ship in the storm. During my thirty years in China, I prayed countless times in times of hardship, and God's response was often not to remove the difficulties, but to give me an unwavering heart in the face of adversity.”

Dugald Christie · Thirty Years of Fengtian

Scripture

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Reflection

As healers or those facing suffering, we often think of "peace" as the disappearance of illness. However, Dr. St. George reminds us that true faith is the ability to perceive a steadfast presence even when mired in the valley of the shadow of death. In the tug-of-war between busyness and life and death, God's "rod" and "staff" are not magic wands to remove storms, but rather tools to set the course and support the weak. Reflecting on today, have I neglected that "guide" because I'm focused on solving "difficulties"? Only in the depths of that unwavering heart can the rigor of science intertwine with the compassion of faith, transforming into the power to heal others.