When Faith Mirrors Life

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Posted by: Chris Lake, On-Air Host | Monday, November 9th, 2026 ( 8:57am)

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.—Romans 8:18 – 19

This time of the year is always a little tough for me. I’m “celebrating” an anniversary of being a type 1 insulin-dependent diabetic. This year I’ve had 42 years of shots, finger sticks, and an endless roller coaster of ups and downs.   

My journey with diabetes began in 1984 as a 13-year old. I remember a nurse walking into the room, looking at my chart, and telling me I would be lucky to live to the age of 52. For a kid just starting middle school, this was a shock. At the time, she was right. Even with treatment, life expectancy was limited. I had to follow a strict mantra of diet, exercise, and insulin. I had to be up at 8:00 in the morning for breakfast, lunch no later than noon, and dinner at 6:00 so that my blood sugar levels would not swing out of control. The old machines gave only an estimate of my blood sugar range as I tried to keep pace with my two shots a day.  

Today, my health journey looks dramatically different.  

For the past 15 years I’ve worn an insulin pump that gives me a drop of insulin every few minutes. I now wear a sensor that automatically measures the exact level of my blood sugar, and the pump makes insulin adjustments as I need them. I no longer carry the weight of worry over keeping track of my blood sugar levels; that responsibility has shifted to the equipment. The technology has changed my life forever.  

When I reflect on my health journey, I realize my faith journey has taken a similar path. 

Early on I thought life as a Christian was following the rules and checking the boxes. This meant getting to church twice on Sunday and even on Wednesday night. I thought I could open my Bible a few times a week and understand enough and be good enough.  My spiritual health was centered on what I did rather than what Jesus did for me.  

But just like how an insulin pump freed me from painful pokes and a life of uncertainty, the day I accepted Jesus and His free gift of salvation dramatically changed my life for the better too. 

Now, I realize that God’s mercies are new each and every day. Getting to church and taking Sabbath is not a mandatory path to salvation, but a positive respite for body, mind, and soul. I learned that Scripture helps serve as a measure of how well I’m living out of my heart to serve Jesus, but that the burden isn’t on me to do it perfectly. Jesus has already done it all, and all I need to do is trust Him with every new day He blesses me with.  

I’ll soon celebrate turning 55 years old. Just as I’ve learned to trust my insulin pump to help care for my physical health, I’ve learned to trust Jesus with my spiritual health. Neither journey has been perfect, there are always ups and downs. But through every high and low, God has been faithful. And perhaps that's what both journeys have taught me most: peace comes not from being in control, but from trusting the One who is.

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