“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)
“Sara, I’ve been looking for you!”
So came the cry that changed my life, uttered by my husband David in October 2022.
It was my last day serving with Samaritan’s Purse in Fort Myers, Florida, following Hurricane Ian. I had spent the previous 6 days helping homeowners gut their storm-ravaged homes – removing personal belongings, floodwater-soaked insulation, clothing, appliances, and even rotten food from refrigerators. Our labor of love helped hurting individuals see their way forward, so contractors could begin rebuilding their houses. More importantly, our prayers and compassion brought the love of Christ to everyone we helped.
Debris piles lined the streets in front of Ft Myers’ homes after Hurricane Ian decimated the community.
On my last day, as we returned to our church base camp, David asked our disaster response team to sign his Samaritan’s Purse Bible before we all went our separate ways. I was excited to do so, but disappointed that I didn’t get to say goodbye to him, as he disappeared while I was writing. After handing off David’s copy of God’s Word to another team member, I reentered the building to gather my belongings and load my car for the journey home.
David’s Samaritan’s Purse Bible, annotated by me to him, to commemorate our time serving together after Hurricane Ian.
Before leaving, I decided to change out of my dirty work clothes before hitting the road. Upon reentering the bathroom, I spotted my first miracle. There, on a bench outside the shower stall, sat the handcrafted toiletry bag my sister had made me. Had I not returned to change, I never would have seen it, nor would I have known it was missing until days later. In fact, I might never have found it again.
My reflections topped the page of David’s Bible as I was the first one to sign it.
Leaving the restrooms, I should have turned left to the parking lot and headed home.
Instead, I believe God’s angels turned me right so I would exit the building the wrong way. What makes me say so? Because it was there, outside the back of the church, in an area I had no purpose in visiting, that I heard David’s call: “Sara, I’ve been looking for you!”
As David and I smiled at one another across the campus, I waved, and he came rushing over to hug me. After doing so, he asked if he could stop by my house on his way home to Virginia – thereby forever altering my life. Had I not gone back into the building, had I not turned right instead of left after doing so, had I not gone out of a door I had no reason to exit, I might never have seen David again.
But that’s not what God wanted, for both of us.
The rest is, as they say, “history.”
So it is with God’s pursuit of all of us. From before we were born, our Heavenly Father has pursued our hearts. He longs for us to find Him and call Him Lord. Our free will allows us to pursue our own selfishness or God’s grace. The choice is always ours. He is always ready for us to walk into His open arms, to turn the corner, and pursue His faithfulness.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
“I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me.” (Proverbs 8:17)
“But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)
“Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11)
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)
Just as David was looking for me, I was looking for Him – without even knowing it. He was the other half of my heart that I never thought I’d find, the happiness I never thought I’d experience. We found unspeakable joy when we found each other.
So it is for all of us when we surrender to our Savior. We can only find what has been missing in our lives, the happiness beyond comprehension, the fulfillment of all that we’ve been seeking, if we invite Christ into our hearts. More than a soulmate, Jesus Christ is our soul’s eternal Savior. He’s the only one who can give us eternal life and fulfillment beyond comparison if we will turn our hearts, minds, and souls over to Him.
“I’ve been looking for you,” says God. Turn right and walk into His waiting arms. Let the angels guide you to eternal life in Christ Jesus. Surrender and be made whole. You might never find Him if you don’t seek Him. Your Heavenly Father has been waiting for you.
“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.’” (Psalm 46:10)
View below Anna Ruby Falls, Helen, GA.
I’ve lived in a state of exhaustion for so long that it has become my new norm. While my day job will never be my life, having a high work ethic means that my days last as long as it takes to perform my duties to my elevated standards. With seven executives to support – one of whom is a C-level officer who travels nearly every week and holds back-to-back meetings all day, every day – there is no margin for error in what I do, or a chance to slow down. Hence, I typically work 50 to 60 hours a week.
A strong need to get away, coupled with a real concern that I would lose my vacation pay for the year if I didn’t use it, led me to try to take some time off a few weeks ago. I use the word “try” as I intended to take off two and a half days but ended up working all but one.
Still, David and I were able to spend a week in the northeastern Georgia mountains while I worked – a part of the state I had always wanted to visit but never traveled to on my own. With David, everything is different – even vacations.
Our rented cabin in the woods, Lakemont, GA.
As we discovered for ourselves, northern Georgia boasts several state and national parks, as well as 20 lakes, forests, and numerous hiking trails that traverse tranquil forests, cascading streams, magnificent waterfalls, and breathtaking mountains. Visiting in late October also allowed us to experience the vivid colors of fall foliage – something I hadn’t encountered in Georgia in the past 15 years, having lived along the state’s coastal region.
As the mountains came into view on our drive, I confess that my spirits lightened at the prospect of escape – and our journey had just begun. Stepping out of the car at our mountain cabin was like discarding a brick-laden backpack I hadn’t even realized I’d been carrying. As we walked our dogs along the dirt road that first evening, marveling at the beauty and tranquility of our northern retreat, I remember speaking quietly to David, not wanting to disturb the placidity of the woods with the sound of my voice.
Cascading waters below Anna Ruby Falls, Helen, GA.
“It’s so peaceful here,” I observed. “I love the silence.”
There’s something to be said about remaining quiet when I’m outside – absorbing the beauty of God’s creation. The outdoors has always been like a sanctuary to me. It’s where I feel closest to my Creator. Anything other than the sound of nature disturbs the worship that fills my heart as I hike in the woods, kayak in the marsh, or stroll along the sand. While I frequently listen to audiobooks while I’m doing yard work, I crave noiselessness when I’m outdoors. It almost seems blasphemous to speak when all creation is singing of God’s glory.
Woods along the Minnehaha Falls Trail, Chattahoochee National Forest, Lakemont, GA
While it was colder than we would have liked during our getaway (in the low 50s during the day and high 20s at night), with rain and wind filling five of the seven days we were there, we still made beautiful memories in the mountains. David and I were together in the felicity of God’s forest – feeling His presence and allowing the silent perfection of our surroundings to permeate our spirits.
Sure, we lost power twice during the week we were away – once over a five-hour interval in the pitch dark of the cold woods – yet that hardly mattered. We had shelter, candles, and a fire in a freestanding stove that we could huddle around together. I will never forget the blessed getaway and the joy my heart felt as we hiked several trails alone, experiencing the serenity of silence together.
While the nature of my job will always bring stress-filled days, I know how to let it go as I serve a Savior who promised to carry all my burdens. Psalm 55:22 reminds me to, “Cast [my] cares on the Lord and He will sustain [me]; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” I know how to lay it all down at His feet, and I have no problem doing so. Every time I do, He fills me with His peace, joy, and tranquility.
View from Black Rock Mountain along the Tennessee Rock Trail, Clayton, GA. The 80-mile view spans Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Whether I’m on the beach, in the woods, hiking in the mountains, digging in my yard, or just sitting on my porch, whenever I take the time to be still, I always feel God’s presence beside me. Nothing on earth is as powerful as our silent Creator, whose omnipotence will always speak more power than any trepidation the world may thrust upon us.
Chaos will always call. It’s up to us to silence the voice of disquietude and listen to our Almighty Father, instead. As the Psalmist, King David, told us, “Be still and know that [He] is God.” (chapter 46, verse 10). Our trip to the mountains serves as proof of the same.
David and I basked in the grandeur of God’s love as we sat alongside Minnehaha Falls in Tiger, GA.
“You thrill me, Lord, with all You have done for me! I sing for joy because of what You have done.” (Psalm 92:4)
On October 9, 2022, I embarked on a journey that would forever alter my life in ways I never could have imagined. In a blog entitled, “Here Am I. Send Me,” I detailed the doors God opened that led me to assist Samaritan’s Purse after Hurricane Ian decimated Ft. Myers, FL. Through prayerful surrender, I know my Creator led me to demonstrate His love to those who had suffered immeasurable losses following this natural disaster. The more I gave, the more joy I received. God’s love is like that. He’s still giving back to me, to this day.
In a later blog post, dated December 31, 2022, entitled “Surrender – Samaritan’s Purse Deployment, Part 7,” I described what came next. “On October 12, 2022, Sara Victoria Christiansen and David Robert Olson had a divine appointment to meet on a Hurricane Ian disaster relief bus while serving Christ through Samaritan’s Purse (SP). What began as an act of total surrender has blossomed into a love story to span the ages.”
David and I posed with our Samaritan’s Purse team in October 2022 in front of the home of Herm and Nancy in Ft. Myers, FL. (David is in the back row, second from the right. I am on the far right, front row.)
Three years later, the love that David and I feel for one another is stronger than ever. My stomach still does a quick flip when David smiles at me ardently upon entering the room. We both sigh with contentment when we “huggle” (an original David and Saraism, meaning a combination of hugging and snuggling) while watching TV, falling asleep, and waking up together. We still pray with our arms wrapped around each other at every meal. We work together on chores such as cooking, washing dishes, and yard work on a regular basis. And I must say that, for someone who has always been a loner, my experience being a part of “Team Olson” is pretty spectacular.
But where does all this affection come from? What is our secret?
The answer is simple: God. Matthew 19:26 reminds us that “With God, all things are possible.”
David and I have never been alone in our relationship. From the very beginning, God has always been right here with us. It is His love that surrounds us, first and foremost. It is His strength that keeps us strong. Ecclesiastes 4:11-13 explains this principle this way, “If two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
“We met on a church bus,” David and I often tell others before beginning the story of how God brought the two of us together. We fell in love while serving our Savior. We were both dirty, sweaty, unpretentious people who saw each other in the truest light possible. There is no falsehood when you’re serving Christ in a disaster zone.
David and I joke that we courted in Home Depot, while picking up supplies to help a husband and wife whose home David was rebuilding for them after the hurricane. In my Turning Trials Into Triumph – Samaritan’s Purse Deployment, Part 6 blog post, I explained how all of this came to be.
“We serve a risen Savior who will always turn our trials into triumphs,” I wrote, “We have only to surrender all the pieces of our broken puzzles for our Divine Creator to put us back together again.”
David and I volunteered with Samaritan’s Purse in Ft. Meyers, FL the day after he proposed to me – on Dec. 13, 2022.
And so, here David and I are today: still as much in love as we were when God brought us together. We may not have known at the time of our initial meeting that we loved one another, but God did. He knew before we were born that we were destined to be together. He knew that we had to get through all the mud and muck of our messy lives to learn, grow, and become the people that now fit together like two proverbial peas in a pod. Had we met earlier, we might not have been the people who could have fallen in love so quickly. I might not have responded to David’s proposal, just two short months after we met, “A million, trillion, kabillion times ‘Yes!’” had God not made David the man he is now.
And David might not have known I was the one for him had he, too, not seen me showing God’s love in Florida. We both had to be there, at that moment, in total surrender to our Creator, for everything to come together the way it did.
Three years post-meeting, David and I broke out our SP shirts to celebrate the occasion by “huggling” on the couch.
As “Jesus [is] the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2), so, too, He is the author and finisher of our love story. Without prayer, David and I wouldn’t be as close as we are. And without our daily commitment to reading God’s Word, we wouldn’t be growing stronger in our faith and commitment to our Savior.
The truth is, there are three participants in our marriage: David, me, and God. Our Creator keeps us strong. He keeps us faithful – to Him and to each other. He guides us in our actions toward one another and to Him. He “keep(s) [our] tongues from evil and [our] lips from telling lies.” (Psalm 34:14)
Even at a church luncheon, David and I always sit close and take photos with our heads touching. (October 12, 2025)
We “Trust in the Lord with all [our] hearts, and do not lean on [our] own understanding. In all [our] ways [we] acknowledge him, and He [makes] straight [our] paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
David and I are two imperfect people – but we have God and each other, which means we have everything we need. Because of Christ, we both know love, true love, like we’ve never known before.
I bought a sign at an estate sale years ago that graces the upper wall of our screened porch. While David and I have straightened the sign numerous times, it always seems to shift and hang crooked above our seating area. It’s too high on the wall to straighten without bringing a ladder inside to do so. Truthfully, I like its crooked positioning as it’s emblematic of our lives. The sign reads, “We may not have it all together, but together, we have it all.”
Our perpetually crooked sign hangs on the wall of our screen porch.
With Christ as our center, tethered around us, we do have it all. He doesn’t ask us to be perfect. He asks us to give everything to Him.
David and I don’t know what God has in store for the rest of our days, but we know He does – and that’s enough for us. We trust Him, completely. He’s brought us this far, and He will see us through.
“That the mirth of the wicked is brief, the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. Though the pride of the godless person reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who have seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’ Like a dream, he flies away, no more to be found, banished like a vision of the night. The eye that saw him will not see him again; his place will look on him no more.” (Job 20: 5-9)
Vegas sign at the end of Fremont Street, Las Vegas, NV.
I can hardly believe Labor Day has already come and gone. Where did August go? I worked so much during August that I will forever call it Labor Month, leading up to the Labor Day holiday. While I’m still hoping to get a month’s vacation in return for my 30+ days of super-human efforts, that’s a pipe dream. Still, having an extra day off to recover is appreciated.
This is my first time working for an executive who played a key role in my organization’s annual conference. The event took place last week – in Las Vegas, no less. In addition to my regular day job supporting the CPO and seven other executives, I organized 21 customer/partner/analyst and press meetings for my primary boss during the event – tracking everything on multiple spreadsheets for both the CPO and the six additional executives I support who also attended the event. The preparations kept me locked to my desk for an average of 14+ hour days over two weeks, with few breaks in between.
David brought cereal to me in my office after I rose before dawn and ate beside me to spend time with me. I took 10-minute lunch breaks and abandoned our nightly dog walking ritual over that interval, opting to keep working until 10 or 10:30 pm each evening. By the start of the second week of this routine, I began waking with leg cramps that continued to plague me during the day. I had reduced my daily step count by 5000 paces over this interval, and my body was feeling the strain – big time.
A giant replica of Michelangelo’s David statue graces the hall inside Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
Our conference was held in Caesars Palace, and while the Italian décor was beautiful, especially the full-sized replica of Michelangelo’s David, I told my David that all of it was fake – a shallow imitation of the beautiful Italian sculptures that the two of us had marveled over in their original environment. Sure, there were statues of horses, carriages, Roman gods, and pillars, but those in Rome had been carved by hand thousands of years ago. While I learned that the Palace statues had also been sculpted from marble by skilled artisans, they are still mere imitations of the originals.
Several of my fellow team members attending the conference are Italian, and I asked one what he thought of the décor. “This is Caesars Palace, and yet Caesar is not here: only Augustus,” came his reply. I couldn’t help but laugh at the comment. While I later learned that Caesar was the title of a Roman emperor, rather than a person, of which “Augustus” was one, my friend’s perception matched my own. There was, in fact, no emperor in the Palace – only shallow replicas of the same.
The same sentiment stuck with me throughout my trip. The glitz and glamor were over the top in Las Vegas, with nothing of real value to show. After venturing out on my second night to determine whether there really was a canal with working gondolas in the Venetian hotel (there was!), I felt like I had to avert my eyes around every corner.
“Don’t look left, Sara,” one of my work friends told me as we ventured to Fremont Street on our third night during the conference. David had advised me to go there to see the overhead light show and the famous “Smoking Cowboy” sign he’d seen decades ago when visiting the city in his younger years. Knowing my sensitivities and values, my friend guided me along the street while preventing me from seeing the scantily clad men and women that bordered our path. I had shockingly wandered across several of these women the night before and told my friend of my stunned impressions.
“This place isn’t for me,” I told one of the hotel staff members, Carmen, overlooking our breakfast buffet the next morning. I had asked her how long she’d lived there, prompting her to reply: “My whole life. My children and grandchildren live with me.”
Frescoes, pillars, and statues fill the halls of Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
“Don’t look right,” I was warned, averting my vision. “Don’t look at all, Sara,” my friend said, as I put my hand on her shoulder and allowed her to lead me along the street. While the light show was iconic, the cowboy sign had been replaced with a more miniature replica, and our visit yielded no great impression on my part. I couldn’t wait to return to my room at the hotel.
“There’s a lot of glitz, but it barely covers what’s underneath,” I replied. “Alongside all the fancy hotels, I saw people lying on the street and drunks walking beside the tourists. It’s easy to get caught up in all the glamour, but it looks like there are a lot of less fortunate people living right alongside this, as well.” Carmen nodded her head in agreement. “You’re right,” she said. “That’s all true.”
Marble statues greet patrons outside one of the Palace’s many restaurants inside the Casino.
With rent prices close to $4,000/month for a 3-bedroom home, according to the Uber driver who escorted me to the airport, homelessness is on the rise in Sin City. There were 26,000 evictions in 2024, according to Eviction Lab, which adds to the number of persons living on the street. Crime has risen 20 percent over the past year, as a result.
“Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas,” a renter living near a homeless encampment said. “We are filled with trash, garbage and homeless people sleeping in the streets. We’re so fabulous.”
While there’s no doubt that the casinos, shows, and spectacle of this town are a continual draw to many – one of my executives even boasted that he’d visited 30 times over the years – I saw only emptiness, fleeting fun, and shallow attempts at finding pleasure that can never satisfy.
Elaborate statues and pillars frame the many pools that fill the inner courtyard at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
“Those people need prayer,” I told David, as we prayed for them over lunch when I returned. “That entire city – those that live there and those that visit – all of them need Jesus.”
Just as Caesars Palace boasted no Caesar, so the promise of happiness to those seeking it through worldly means is false and shallow.
An empty palace can never compare to the joy of our salvation, just as a winning slot machine is incomparable to the riches awaiting believers in heaven. Just as there is no Caesar in the Palace, there can be no joy without a Savior. Anything else is just a fake, temporary version of the real deal. I pray that all those who are seeking will find Him– in Las Vegas and beyond.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)
My mom and brother, Joe, arrived in GA a month ago for their tri-monthly visit, and I can honestly say they did so on the wings of a prayer – many fervent prayers, in fact. God never ceases to amaze me.
On their travel day, thunderstorms were threatening to delay their Denver departure. Would that it had been so. The whole day would have been much less dramatic if that were the case. Fortunately, God wanted to use their trip to demonstrate His power over our circumstances – and our ability to trust and pray.
Their adventure began when they missed the first of their two train rides to the airport by only a few minutes. Their regular travel day routine is for Joe to drop Mom off at the RTD railway station – approximately a mile from their house – return the car home, and jog back to catch the train. This time, his return came just a few minutes too late, causing a 30-minute delay in their trip.
Their connection is tight, usually allowing only a few minutes for the pair to leave the train and rush to another track to catch the airport run. This time, the connection didn’t come. When I called to ensure they were on their final train, my brother told me the trains had stopped running. “I don’t know why,” he reported.
“Maybe it’s the weather,” I replied.
“I don’t know,” Joe said. “It’s clear now. I’m afraid we’re going to miss our flight.”
“You still have plenty of time,” I affirmed. “Hang in there.”
My brother texted me twenty minutes later to report they were on the bus, but it wasn’t leaving for another 20 minutes.
“Does it go straight to the airport like the train does?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” my brother replied.
“Ask the driver. He’ll tell you,” I suggested.
A few minutes later, my brother texted to tell me there would be two stops on the journey.
“I understand,” I responded. “I’m praying for you both!”
“The stops are taking too long,” came the following text approximately 10 minutes later.
Checking my watch, I knew the delays had consumed all the extra travel time my brother allowed for their transportation.
“Go to the check-in counter as soon as you arrive,” I offered. “Do that before you ask for the wheelchair for mom. They’ll need to know that you’re there as soon as you arrive. Maybe the agents can help you get through security and drive you and mom to the gate. That happened to David and I once. I’m praying hard for both of you!”
Rechecking the time, I realized that their flight would be boarding in 30 minutes – and they weren’t even at the airport. Things weren’t looking promising for their trip.
I was working in my mom’s yard while all this was happening. A neighbor had consented to my digging up canna lilies from the canal beside his home to replant above my mom’s septic tank. I meant this to be a surprise for my mom when she arrived. With my long work hours and all the other yard projects I’d undertaken in my yard, I was rushing to finish this project before her arrival.
Canna lily bed I extracted plants from for my mom’s yard.
Despite my rush to get the plants in, I felt compelled to stop working and pray. Nothing could be more important than that.
And so, I dropped to my knees in my mom’s yard, put my face to the ground, and prayed, beseeching God to keep my mom and brother safe and bring them to me. Repeatedly, I kept saying, “Keep them safe, Lord. Open the gate. Keep them safe and open the gate. You parted the Red Sea. I know You can open the gate. Your will be done. Strengthen their testimony.”
I continued like this, praying for God to open the gate until the time came and went when I knew their boarding window had ended. With no word from my brother, I changed my prayers from pleas to acceptance.
It was then that I remembered how King David had begged God to save the first child born to him with Bathsheba – even though the prophet Nathan had told him his son would die. He prayed, clothed himself in sackcloth, and fasted for days, refusing to eat while petitioning his heavenly Father to save his son.
2 Samuel tells us the rest of the story:
18 On the seventh day, the child died. David’s attendants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, he wouldn’t listen to us when we spoke to him. How can we now tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.” 19 David noticed that his attendants were whispering among themselves, and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” 20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. 21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!” 22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
2 Samuel 12:18-22
I felt much the same. I prayed. I had pleaded with God for help. The only thing left to do was accept the outcome.
It was then that I called my brother again, intending to make a plan about how they’d arrive the next day.
When my brother picked up, I was stunned to hear him say, “We’re on the plane.”
“What?” I questioned. “How on earth did that happen?”
“The pilot was late, too,” came the reply. “They let us on with him. We’re seated in the front of the plane.”
I laughed and cried at this miraculous news, saying, “Yay, God! The same thing happened to me once, but I never thought it would happen again. That’s fantastic! I’ve been praying hard for hours, but when I didn’t hear anything, I surrendered and said, ‘Okay, God. It’s all up to You.’ Hearing that He opened the gates, just as I was praying, is miraculous. Yay, God!”
My mom and brother standing outside our GA church fellowship hallduring their recent visit.
Surrender is a miraculous thing. Our lives are seldom under our control. How quickly we forget God’s power – until He demonstrates it.
Only when we give everything to God will we see His miracles. Whether opening the closed gates in an airport, providing a new job, or allowing our soulmates to find us in a disaster zone, nothing is impossible with Christ. He keeps proving that to me, over and over again. I love how He constantly shows up and gives me more than I could have imagined. What a God we serve!
And so, my repeated refrain will always be, Pray continually and expect miracles. There’s nothing as magnificent as divine intervention.
Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)
So much has happened over the past few weeks that I can hardly put it all into words. I’m dividing my thoughts into multiple blogs to do justice to these life-changing events. This first post will begin where I left off – chronicling what happened following my decision to quit my job without a safety net.
As mentioned in The Darkness Will Not Overwhelm the Light, I lived out my missionary friend’s challenge to go to Nineveh – figuratively if not physically – and testified to everyone I could about my faith. While I will never know if my words and actions meant anything to anyone, I was far from through presenting my case to my team members.
Upon completing my business trip to London, I arrived home physically and mentally exhausted. Between an early morning flight, delayed departure, and an hour-long wait to get through Customs, I nearly missed my connection to Jacksonville, FL. While my suitcase was not so fortunate, I’m grateful to American Airline’s concierge service, which hand-delivered my bag to my home overnight – just in time for my next trek to VA Beach.
While I planned to return to help David finalize his renovations and place his house on the market, I soon learned that David had secretly finished everything while I was traveling. In fact, David had already put a “For Sale by Owner” sign in the yard and had a showing scheduled for the following afternoon – the very day I was driving back up to help him. After nearly two years of renovation work with considerable delays and unforeseen challenges, completion seemed incomprehensible to me.
And yet, David had done it all. Not only had he nearly single-handedly renovated his house – top to bottom – he was ready to begin showcasing his handiwork, hoping the right person might see it and purchase the property. Without any form of advertising or the use of any realty services, he scheduled someone to visit the property on his own – a staggering accomplishment, to say the least.
After a good night’s rest, I set out with our two kitties and began my northward travel. I was excited about seeing David again and eager to tell him my plans to trust God and quit my job. I felt peace and joy on that ride, knowing that my Heavenly Father controlled everything.
It was great to know that we were finally ending the renovation work. Since David and I met, he’s done nothing but renovate and restore homes. In Ft. Myers, he and I worked and lived in the house we gutted with Samaritan’s Purse – as detailed in my blog post: “Building an ark is never easy but always worth it.”
David then went on to restore and rebuild a second home in Ft. Myers – completing all but a few small projects. He would have finished it all were it not for another essential engagement he had to keep – getting married to me just five months after we met in a disaster zone while serving with Samaritan’s Purse (see Surrender – Samaritan’s Purse Deployment, Part 7).
When our Perfectly Loved saga culminated in our wedding, the renovation work of David’s house began in earnest. One year and nine months later, we were finally ending what we’d lived with as long as we’d been married – traveling between two states each month to renovate and sell his former house. It almost seemed too good to be true, yet here we were, standing on the precipice of something extraordinary.
Fifteen minutes after David’s house showing began, I called to ask if he was parked close to see how long the Realtor took with his prospects. “They were inside with me for 15 minutes,” David replied. “They’re out back now.”
“You’re there?” I asked incredulously. “I didn’t realize that. You’re showing the house yourself?”
“Yes,” David said. “I never intended for anyone to come in without me being here.” While I was still on the phone with him, the buyers returned to ask more questions.
After they left, David called to tell me that the buyers were builders themselves who were helping their friend buy his first home. “They loved it,” David said. “It was great to hear them appreciate all the quality work I’d put into the renovation. They could totally understand my vision.”
Hearing this news made me happy, as I knew no matter what, David had received validation of his skills with this visit. “I’m so proud of you, David!” I told him. “You are amazing! No matter what happens, I’m so glad you heard this affirmation of your incredible abilities from someone who could really appreciate all your hard work.”
After hanging up, I continued my drive, even more excited than ever to see David. I sang along with every praise song on my Pandora app – eagerly anticipating sharing my decision to quit my job with my husband. I knew this was just the start of good things to come.
Less than an hour later, David called me back on Facetime – while I was driving. “Are you ready?” he began.
“Oh, my gosh,” I replied. “Tell me! I’m ready!”
“We got a full price offer!” David exclaimed. “Full price! The Realtor just called me back. He’s writing everything up now.”
“Oh, my gosh!” I replied. “I’m so happy for you, love! You deserve this so much! But wow! You just put the sign up. This is absolutely incredible!”
“It is, love,” David replied. “We did this together. And you know what this means? Quit your job, love. We’re going to be okay. You need to quit your job.”
Hearing these words spoken out loud nearly undid me. As the tears poured down my face, I was speechless. David didn’t know I’d already decided to do just that.
“David,” I was finally able to say. “You just don’t know. God is so good! I hadn’t even told you this yet, but I spent my entire flight back from London writing my next blog. I made a decision yesterday morning to give everything to God and stop saying, ‘I trust God, but…’ I wanted to tell you in person that I was going to quit and give everything to Him. And now, less than a day later, you’ve sold the house? I can hardly believe what a God we serve! Look at what great things He has done!”
As David laughed, the two of us praised our Heavenly Father together. I told him a scriptural passage perfectly summarized how I felt. Ephesians 3: 20-21 says, “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.”
I reminded David that when we surrender – just as we both did when He gave us each other in FL – He gives us more than we can ever ask for and imagine. After hanging up, I called my brother, mom, and best friend to share the incredible news with all of them. We all laughed, cried, and praised God together – all while I was driving to see my husband after one of the longest journeys of my life.
Upon arriving in VA Beach, I could hardly get out of the car fast enough to throw my arms around my husband in celebration. God had given David affirmation of his talent and abilities and brought a buyer to our home just two days after putting a yard sign out – a nearly impossible feat in a challenging real estate market.
But nothing is impossible with Christ. That fact has been consistently affirmed throughout my lifetime.
And now, my exodus from Nineveh would continue in earnest – with a new testimony affirming my stance. What I’d prayed for and had countless others pray for with me over the entire three-month period I worked at my former job was coming to fruition. I was quitting for the first time in my lifetime without another job lined up. Nevertheless, I had complete peace in doing so.
Even without David’s house sale, I knew we would be okay. But, boy, oh boy, was I glad I had decided to leave and trust God without a safety net. It makes the results even more astonishing. I trusted God, and He immediately rained down His blessings on me and David in affirmation of my faith.
The next day, I was eager to quit, but it was not meant to be. My boss returned from London extremely sick, so I needed to postpone my resignation discussion until the next day. It was hard to contain myself then, but I did so, as I knew I needed to do this the right way – face-to-face over Zoom since we couldn’t meet in person. When I finally shared the news with her, she was shocked.
I started the conversation by repeating her words from a previous team meeting. “Yesterday, you mentioned that ‘intentionality around culture is so important.’ You told us that we need to ‘feel it, breathe it, live it.’”
As she sat up in her chair, eagerly anticipating me saying that I was wholly on board, I hit her with the opposite. “I can’t do that,” I said instead.
Her face immediately altered, and she sat back hard in her chair. “I’m sorry,” she replied. “What did you say? I’m not sure I heard you.”
“I can’t do that,” I repeated. “It’s been an honor to work for you and I have great respect for you, but this isn’t the job for me. If I may, I’d like to read you something I’ve prepared in explanation.”
After expressing her disappointment and with her hand on her heart, my boss invited me to proceed.
“This role requires someone to embrace your culture,” I began. “That culture stands in direct contrast to my faith. There is a difference between the religion of Christianity and someone who has a relationship with Jesus Christ. I have the latter. As an evangelical Christian, my life revolves around my relationship with Jesus Christ. He is my Lord and Savior. Jesus is the light of the world. He saved my soul, and His blood covers my sins. I don’t need anything more than Him.”
“I don’t need to meditate on myself to feel peace,” I continued. “My JOY comes from putting Jesus first, Others second, and then myself. What I’ve seen here is that finding Self through spiritual practices is what is fostered. That mindset stands in direct opposition to my beliefs.”
“My meditation focuses on following Christ with my whole life. Doing so means everything to me. My daily walk with my Heavenly Father is what I feel, breathe, and live. It’s what my life is built upon – and there is no compromise in that.”
“You need someone in this role who embraces your culture and wants this job to be their life. That can never be me. As I said when I accepted the role, I can’t worship anything other than God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Holy Spirit. I worship the Divine Creator – not what He created, including myself. Anything apart from that is blasphemous to me and hurts my spirit. I can’t ever support that mindset.”
With all that said, I gave my two-week notice and surrendered everything to God – again. I wasn’t sure what would follow, but what my Heavenly Father gave me was astounding. Both virtually and in writing, my boss told me she admired me for standing for my faith. “You have a beautiful heart, and I admire your commitment to listening to your own inner wisdom about what is the next best step for you,” she wrote in response to my official resignation letter.
At her request, I only notified a few others I worked with about my departure – which, blessedly, came during the holidays, so many of my team members were on vacation. No matter who I wrote, I was determined to keep shining my light and praising my Savior, who I knew would sustain me. I will save a few of the responses I received for a future post.
And now, I must return to my story regarding David’s house sale, as we eventually turned down our initial offer. The buyer wanted us to pay nearly $10,000 in his closing costs – which we didn’t feel David’s hard work warranted. Stepping out in faith, we again showed the house to two more prospects. The first wanted to rent it and said he’d crunch the numbers and get back to us. He never did.
The second showing occurred after a potential buyer stopped by with her grandchildren. We couldn’t let her in as I was on a work call during her first impromptu visit. She arranged to come back a few days later with her Realtor. Before leaving, she made another full-price offer – this time without a clause for us to pay a thing. The buyer gave us her earnest money before leaving in her car. After passing two home inspections with flying colors, we sold the house – again.
This time, the buyer and her Realtor were both Christians. This time, we all gave God the praise and glory before anyone even left the house. This time, we knew God ordained the sale – just one week after we put a “For Sale by Owner” sign in the yard – to a buyer who didn’t even live in the neighborhood, without a Realtor to help us or with any form of advertisement other than a yard sign.
This time, our Heavenly Father brought a Christian buyer who will bring her grandchildren and a continual line of foster pets into the home that David and I always prayed would be alive and joyful after we left. We could not be more grateful!
David and I share a hug and smile while loading our U-Haul truck after selling his renovated VA Beach house.
David’s house sale will finalize mid-January 2025, and the last day of my employment was December 31st. What follows will have to wait until my next post.
Suffice it to say that God is sufficient. As 2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” God’s Word also says, “Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
I went to Nineveh and did what God asked me to do. I testified to His power and mercy before, during, and after I walked through the door of this pagan city and culture. I knew this would be a difficult journey – but God sustained me. Throughout all the tears, questioning, and prayers that I and others submitted on my behalf, I never doubted God would see me through it all. Still, the way that He did continues to astound me.
We can never outgive God – even if all we give is ourselves. Our Heavenly Father sacrificed His Son on the cross to save us from paying the cost of our sins. There can be no more extraordinary gift or significant demonstration of love than that. How could I ever keep my light – God’s light inside of me – undercover, sustaining anything other than what God asks me to?
The answer is I can’t, and I won’t. Hebrews 10:23 reminds us to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
God’s faithfulness sustained me through my journey out of Nineveh. God’s mercy saved me from any further days of living in an oppressive environment. God’s love held me up when I was beaten down by the spiritual forces that were battling to silence my witness. And God’s power gave me the voice to sing His praise and testify to His all-sustaining grace.
I am unashamed to give my thanks, praise, and glory to God. How could I not? Look at the great things He has done!
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41: 13)
“The darkness will not overwhelm You, but sometimes it can overwhelm us. Give Sara your strength and perfect peace. Send your angels to surround her and help her escape to the place where you want to plant her feet.” – Pastor Gerry, St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England.
The first time I was approached by a recruiter on LinkedIn and invited to apply for my current position, I knew this company wasn’t one I could support. I initially turned the recruiter down as I had no desire to proceed.
And yet here I am.
I sometimes wonder how any of this happened. How could I have accepted a position in a place that seemed counter to my beliefs? Was I fooled, misguided, led astray, beguiled, or just foolish?
After being approached by the recruiter again, I wondered if God wanted me there to bring His Light into the darkness. “Maybe I’m supposed to be in this role for a specific reason or purpose,” I told my husband, David.
And so I applied – and prayed. If this isn’t what I should do, Lord, shut the door. Instead of shutting it, He blew the door right off the hinges.
From my first interview, I testified about my faith. “I am a Christian,” I told my boss when she asked me to talk about my spiritual journey. “My faith is everything to me. It’s who I am.” I rejoiced at that testimony, knowing that no matter what happened, I had been unashamed to stand for Christ.
I testified again to my boss before signing the agreement to work for my employer. “There are lines I can’t cross,” I explained. “I cannot offer any praise, honor, or adoration to any deity other than to God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. To do so would be blasphemy to me.”
“I understand,” came the response. “I completely respect that.”
And yet she doesn’t. Every day, I’m unhappy – with the job, the lifestyle, and the culture. Every day since I started, this job has been wrong for me – on multiple levels.
After drawing that first line, my boss introduced me to a former missionary, Mark, who told me how he’d met the billionaire funding this enterprise – along with his wife, the CEO. He said that he liked and admired them. He is also fully funded by them, as well.
“Their wealth burdens them,” Mark explained. “They feel compelled to ‘do good’ with it. If I had to comment on their beliefs, I’d say they are misguided. I could also say that they are not moving in the direction that I prefer. Still, I have no qualms about their sincerity.”
Mark’s description might be the worst depiction of lost souls I’ve ever heard. “Not moving in the direction that I prefer”? Just wow.
I’ve long suspected that Mark’s heart is not as burdened at the idolatry and spiritualism in all this as I am since he told me he’s known, worked with, and bound his organization to these philanthropists for financial reasons for years. Knowing and working with them is one thing. It’s quite another to attend their annual 2-week retreat and participate in their energy transference sessions, which Mark has done. That’s something I could never do.
Mark’s wife, he admitted, believes the organization is a cult. She is not happy with his involvement. I think he’s compromised his faith due to his shared business involvement with them since they are his corporation’s only financial backer.
What I know is that this company’s culture is entirely pagan. In addition to partnering with so-called Christian mystics who believe in reincarnation and clairvoyant healers who believe in energy transference, placing giant stones on the land and crystals throughout their offices to supposedly “transfer and receive energy,” practicing meditation sessions that involve bringing one’s “Divine Self” into one’s body, and asking “permission” from the woods before entering it, they also house a spiritual “school of consciousness” on a European property that trains future spiritualists to facilitate their practices.
The executive director of this school notes in her biography that she is the daughter of a “full-trance medium” while wholly acknowledging that one needs “protection” during their practices. In her own words, “Old world teachers and occultists are reborn in this setting.” The more I learn, the more I know I need to get away from all of this.
While researching this school, I discovered a recorded meditation that validated everything I believed about their ungodly mindset. What I saw and heard shocked me with its mockery of God’s divinity.
In one video, the spiritual “guide” – the school’s founder – leads listeners to “Follow the beam of Light that is anchored in your heart up into the greater source above you. Know that you are in a body of matter, and you are also a source of Light.”
“Here, in the center of the earth, you’ll find the ‘I am,'” explained the guide. “Bring the ‘I am’ up from the earth, through your inner beam of Light, and out into the heavens.”
I couldn’t listen any further – research or no research. What I’d heard was blasphemy against God, the one and only “I am” – as repeatedly referenced throughout scripture. The below references offer only a few examples of this:
“I am El-Shaddai — ‘God Almighty.'” (Genesis 17:1)
“I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14)
And God said to Moses, “I amYahweh — ‘the Lord.'” (Exodus 6:2)
“Be still and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (Psalm 46:10)
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.” (Isaiah 42:8)
I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. (Isaiah 43:11)
“From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.” (Isaiah 43:13)
This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer and Creator: “I am the Lord, who made all things.” (Isaiah 44:24)
“Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me.” (Isaiah 46:9)
“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?” (Isaiah 51:12)
“For I am the Lord! If I say it, it will happen.” (Ezekiel 12:25)
“I am the Lord, and I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6)
Jesus answered, “I am. And in the future, you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of God, the Powerful One, and coming on clouds in the sky.” (Mark 14:62)
“I am the light of the world. The person who follows me will never live in darkness but will have the light that gives life.” (John 8:12)
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I am!” (John 8:58)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die. (John 11:25)
Jesus answered, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.” (John 14:6)
“Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (John 14:11)
The Lord God says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega. I am the One who is and was and is coming. Iam the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)
And yet, the people I work with believe they can find the “I am” in themselves, the earth below them, and the heavens. Such a thing can never be. There is only one “I am.” He is the God of all creation. You can’t find God by visualizing yourself bringing Him into your body – which is what these pagan teachings suggest. Only through accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Lord and Savior can anyone experience the true “I am.”
In hindsight, Mark was correct when he said, “You are jumping right into the deep end. You’re like Jonah entering Nineveh.”
Ironically, Mark’s timing was nearly spot-on, too. Only a few months into my job, I traveled to the U.K. for work while my daily Bible reading led me to travel into the biblical Nineveh. Mark’s words reflected in my mind while I was there.
I’d dreaded the trip from the first time I learned about it. I knew it would be a mental and spiritual journey, and I was right. I hadn’t been under such work duress since I traveled to France while working as the assistant to a university president eight years ago.
With only a few hours of sleep on the overnight flight to London, I was expected to remain sunny, bright, and constantly social as we met with our U.K. counterparts for an afternoon ice skating activity that quickly became the living embodiment of my social awkwardness. The drinking began as everyone (but me) gushed over how much they loved the company. It started early, at 3:30 pm, with much imbibing of mulled wine and cocktails over the next several hours.
London’s ice skating rink at Somerset House – surrounded by the King’s College campus.
This practice continued in earnest at the “winter party” the following evening – a party we had traveled across the ocean to attend. Apart from the cocktails, the steady stream of refilled wine glasses before, during, and after dinner rendered everyone (but me and perhaps one or two others) completely inebriated – as was evidenced by a video later circulated in our company’s group text.
Fortunately, I strategically extracted myself from this dinner when the laughter and boisterous behavior turned into exuberant dancing. Seeing my boss move to the restroom and another team member to the cloakroom, I grabbed my coat, mouthing “thank you” to our hostess and waving goodbye while walking as fast as I could out of the exit.
Later that evening, I dared to open the gift bags we’d been presented earlier. Amidst the bottle of champagne and notepad I received, there was a book of the Spiritual Poems of Rumi. With curiosity, I skimmed the book to determine if it was as unfettered as I presumed it would be.
It was.
Muhammad Balkhi Rumi was an Afghani mystic who lived between 1207-1244. During his lifetime, he served as an Islamic scholar and teacher, writing 65,000 verses – many of which were quatrains.
A sample page from The Spiritual Poems of Rumi that was provided to me as a gift from my employer.
Some of these poems are Rumi’s exposition on the meaninglessness of life. Others speak of death and his belief that the afterlife is nothing more than a return to the collective universe, as is evidenced in his poem, Again my soul:
the day my soul begins the journey to the skies is the day my body is scattered all over the earth but if you write “rise” in the ground with your finger I’ll jump out of the earth and my body again will come to life
With these crazy thoughts – seemingly embraced by my company – swirling in my head, I began our next day’s venture.
Saturday was our last day in the U.K. Our team had planned to partake in a tour of London together via a city Hop On Hop Off bus. Only 3 of the 13 people invited to participate joined me in seeing the city after the prior night’s festivities.
A double-decker tour bus waits outside St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
About 45 minutes into the tour, the bus stopped at St. Paul’s Cathedral, and I knew I needed to get off. It was here that I parted with my group to experience this beautiful church. After two days of associating with New Agers, I was more than ready to be in a place where I felt comfortable – God’s house.
St. Paul’s Cathedral exterior, London, England.
Upon entering the cathedral, I discovered I’d have to pay an entrance fee of 25 British Pounds to tour the sanctuary. Since I wanted to pray more than anything, I moved to the free chapel to the left of the main sanctuary. After beseeching my Heavenly Father to show me how to escape my job, a female chaplain entered the space, asking everyone what brought us to their church.
The free chapel inside London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, where I prayed during my trip.
When she came to me, I didn’t need to say much for her to sense the pain in my heart. She quickly moved into the pew beside me and invited me to talk. I poured out my heart to her.
Chaplain Gerry and I share a smile after she prayed with me in St. Paul’s Cathedral.
“Spiritual warfare is a powerful thing,” the chaplain began. “We need to continually ask God to give us strength even while we’re praying for His protection and guidance.”
The chaplain, whose name I learned was Gerry, asked if she could pray for me. To my impassioned affirmation, she did so.
Exterior front and side of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, England.
“Guide Sara’s feet,” Gerry beseeched, “and show her where to plant them.” While Gerry petitioned God for my protection, she said something I’d never considered. “The darkness will never overwhelm You, [Lord], but it can overwhelm us.”
What a beautiful reminder, I thought. I felt such strength, comfort, and relief from those words. My Savior is in control of everything. I am reminded of that fact every day.
She could only smile when I told Gerry I’d been prayed over by a street preacher the night before and by chaplains at Samaritan’s Purse in Asheville, NC. I also explained how David and I met, which led her to ask, “What does your husband think about all this?”
Me and the London street preachers that prayed with me during my visit.
“He told me to quit,” I replied. “As did the Samaritan’s Purse chaplain. I trust God, but it’s hard to think of quitting without another job waiting for me. I’ve never done that before.”
“God will show you what to do,” she ended.
I left the chapel with extreme gratitude, knowing that my Heavenly Father would continue to guide me.
The afternoon’s challenges continued as my tour bus never returned to pick up many of us who had hopped off to see Buckingham Palace. Darkness soon descended during the hour and a half we stood waiting in the cold. I knew then that I’d never return to the hotel in time for our group’s evening activities.
After calling my boss and admitting the same, I began walking, seeking shelter from the frigid air. In addition to my distress at the bus never coming and the icy cold that had permeated my bones, I was flustered by the thought that my boss would perceive this as another failure.
Throughout the journey, I sensed her frustration with me. I wasn’t participating. I didn’t have all the peripheral transportation items on her calendar that she wanted (a fact she texted to me while we were seated directly opposite one another during our first afternoon’s lunch).
And then there’s the fact that I couldn’t fake enthusiasm for a trip I didn’t want to be on while everyone else was excited to be there. In short, I felt angst at not performing well and realized I could never be myself at this job.
On the last morning of our trip, I woke up with a new commitment to trust God wholeheartedly. I knew I could no longer say, “I trust God, but…”. I know I need to leave this role. It’s time for me to evidence trust with every ounce of my being – including believing that God will sustain me if I leave my job without another one already in place.
“I do trust you, God,” I prayed that morning, tears streaming down my face. “I’m going to take that trust a step further and give this job to you. I will give my 2-week notice this week.”
As validation of the rightness of this decision, I discovered that my boss had circulated a plan for our group to meet in January to hold a “team practice day.” Translation? She wants to facilitate an all-day activity with an “alignment meditation” as they do in the U.K.
I previously determined that I’d never participate in one of these activities. After researching my work’s “Team Practice” page, I learned that the ideals espoused in these sessions are entirely humanistic and blasphemous. One of the alignment practices repeats the search for “The Light That I AM” that I discussed earlier in this post.
Meditative alignment practices detailed on my work’s Team Practice Page.
I’ve already found the “I AM.” He is GOD – my Heavenly Father, the Author and Finisher of everything. The Creator of all humanity is not someone I’m going to locate through the “magnetism of the earth and the current of light from the higher dimensions” that my work’s website details, nor can I breathe Him into myself of my own accord or find that the I AM is really me, myself, and I – as they seem to believe.
Instead, all I have to do is “Be still and know that I am God!” as Psalm 46:10 tells me. I have felt the presence of the Almighty I AM my entire life while my teammates are still searching for Him.
I cannot support cultural practices that are so far from God. I will no longer give any implied consent to their mindset and mission. I can now leave my job, knowing I’ve gone to Nineveh. I testified to thirteen people while I was there. I told anyone who would listen about how God brought David and I together, my surrender to my Heavenly Father, and my peace in knowing where I will go when God calls me home. All but one of these people walked away while I was talking.
I have done my part. While I didn’t cry out in the streets as Jonah did, I now know I can leave, fulfilling my promise to stand for my faith in every possible way. It’s not up to us to save anyone. Only our Creator can do so. He just told us to obey whatever He tells us to do.
Now is the time for me to trust that my Heavenly Father will lead me forward and that He will “place my feet where He wants them next,” as Chaplain Gerry said. That means I need to trust with my whole life – even without a safety net. While that thought frightens me beyond belief, it also fills me with peace.
God is in control. I may never know the reason and purpose of why I was placed in this role – but that doesn’t matter. God does. I’ve done what He asked and lived out my faith in a pagan culture. I will now leave Him to move me as He chooses.
The darkness will never overwhelm the Light – and I pray it will never overwhelm me again. If it does, I will always remember this journey.
For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)
I surrender my fear, understanding, and control to you, Lord Jesus. I know you will help me. I surrender all.
Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. (Psalm 100:3)
We all need Jesus. What a profound statement that is. I’ve spent the past five weeks of my life working with people who purposely choose to deny that fact. I’m not sure I want to spend many more surrounded by such denial. It hurts me to see such misguided pursuits. It’s one thing to know that there’s such repudiation in the world. It’s another to be in the middle of it without ever being able to speak against it or share what I know to be true – to be able to say out loud, “You all need Jesus.”
I woke at 4:45 am the other morning, knowing something had to give. After a month of work dreams and oppressed days filled with mentally and physically exhaustive actions, I’ve nearly had enough. These are not my people. I cannot support their culture.
I’ve never held a job where I’ve been pressed to join something counter to who I am – until now. I was promised that I was being hired to support my boss administratively and that I didn’t need to ascribe to the New Age ideals this environment espouses. That wasn’t true. In fairness, I don’t think my boss knew how untrue that statement was when she made her promise to me.
As an executive assistant, I can support anyone to the highest level of care that they require – whether that’s reading lines to someone in their underwear in preparation for a recorded interview (yes, I really did this) or washing dinner dishes from a 15-person event at 10:00 pm after a 15-hour work day (I did this a few days ago). I’ve traveled with my executives, packed for them, made their daily pitchers of iced tea, and reminded them of personal commitments as well as business events. I care about their families and fret over their lack of sleep. Despite the exhaustion, their support extends into my life, and I pray over and love them all.
And yet, there are lines I can’t cross. I see them everywhere in my current role, and I think it’s time for a giant step back.
The day after our national elections, my boss organized a “post-election meditation” with a friend and mentor of hers – Susan Salzberg. Susan is a woman who says things like, “We don’t need any sort of religious orientation to lead a life that is ethical, compassionate and kind.”
While Susan’s statement may be true, what she’s forgotten is that she still needs Jesus. Life is more than being “ethical, compassionate, and kind.” It’s about worship. It’s about serving a Savior who loves us enough to send His Son to die for us. It’s about daily surrendering our lives to the only one who can ever save us. We can never do so ourselves.
Despite my desire to never participate in another guided meditation session at work, I was pressed to do so on November 6th. This time, as the group sat on porch chairs around a 56-inch mobile computer monitor to connect with Susan Salzberg via Zoom, I stood on the porch and looked out at God’s majestic mountains surrounding the campus. This time, I prayed to God with my eyes open – figuratively and literally – giving each of my team members to their Creator while praying over them as this guru guided everyone to “give themselves permission to heal.”
Instead of participating in the group “meditation,” I concentrated on worshiping the Creator of the Blue Ridge Mountains beyond the Marshall, NCcampuswhere I stood.
The session began with my boss expressing that “we are all extremely distressed over the election of a person filled with hatred who will now govern our nation” – an opinion she assumed I shared. I don’t. She then said how our leadership team’s children “are afraid to go to school.” She continued, “We’re all so upset that we cried together earlier.”
While I knew she wasn’t speaking for me, and I can’t begin to understand her mentality, her elucidations were nothing compared to those this would-be guru of New Age cultism shared.
As the session continued, Susan responded by comparing the election to the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. At the time, Susan explained, rumors expounded, including some that proclaimed trees would never bloom again. “They did,” she affirmed, “and people found within themselves the will to go on.”
As the half-hour session continued, I concentrated on my Savior and His created majesty. At the same time, my coworkers were led to focus on their breathing and silently meditate on questions such as “May I be healthy again?” and “May we be happy again?” Per Susan’s guidance, everyone should permit themselves to do so after raising these questions.
Susan then directed everyone to silently repeat the name of someone who made them happy while allowing themselves permission to smile in remembrance of that name. I smiled at this suggestion as I’d already been calling on the only name anyone ever needs to be happy and whole – Jesus. Jesus got me through that session, as He has every other questionable belief I’ve uncovered about this group’s mindset over the past month.
Jesus, I cried. These people are so lost. Be with them. Show Yourself to them. You are always with us. I see you in these mountains and this beautiful sky. They look inward to find their peace when Your peace already surrounds us. They can’t see You, even though You are always here. You created them, the world, and everything in it. Open their eyes, Lord. Open their hearts and help them to see You.
When the session was over, my boss effused over the empty words that she saw as healing – words that spoke to me of loss and desperation. Only God can heal the spirit, I knew. Only Christ can give us peace.
And so, after waking early to capture these thoughts, I wonder how much longer I can maintain my new role. I know I can’t be a part of this culture of madness that is seeking “mindful consciousness” when I have already found peace and security in Christ. I will never ascribe to their ideals. I can’t get excited at guided “sky gazing” – a practice our “Director of Net Offerings” detailed over lunch last week. He explained that the activity is one in which he frequently leads participants. When questioned about the activity, he clarified that – with his guidance – one can “become one with the sky and let it carry you away then gently bring you back to a better state within yourself.” I will never “recognize that both [me] and the sky are parts of the larger universe.” I know that I am not “the universe experiencing itself,” – nor will I think that “[I am] the universe looking into a mirror.”
Conversely, I am a created being, made in the image of God, and yet I cannever be God – something I fear these people believe is possible. To me, such notions are blasphemous.
There is only one divine being – the triune God, Yahweh – my Heavenly Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
When exposed to such thoughts over the past month, I frequently repeat Psalm 100 to myself. This precious song has always been one of my favorites. I memorized it as a child; its words have become my daily touchstone.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good, and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.
We all need Jesus. I would be lost without Him, even as I believe everyone I work with is. I pray for them daily and give them all to His tender care.
I also pray that God will continue to guide me to do what He wants me to do. No matter where I look or how someone tries to guide me to see otherwise, I will always see Jesus.
In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps. (Proverbs 16:9)
Being chosen is one thing. Being selected after initially rejecting, auditioning three times, and then praying for validation with absolute certainty by God is quite another feeling entirely. Please allow me to explain what I mean.
I closed my laptop for the last time at my former job a few days ago. It still hasn’t fully hit me yet, but my life is about to change dramatically with my new employer. I was recruited for this job through an executive search company. While I will still be an executive assistant, this role is entirely different because of the corporate structure, mission, and my executive’s background. My new company is small, based out of the United Kingdom, and wholly funded by a billionaire hedge fund manager the British government knighted for his philanthropic work.
If that’s not impressive enough, the executive I will support was voted as one of Fortune magazine’s “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders” – alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as well as Bill and Melinda Gates in the same year. In addition to her charitable work, serving as CEO of an organization that worked to end five of the world’s Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) – ultimately administering over 700 million NTD treatments – she led international programs for Operation Smile and disaster response for International Medical Corps. With service in over 70 different countries, board service to groups such as the World Economic Forum’s Global Health Security Advisory Board, and ultimately writing a book whose forward was written by Bill Gates, there can be no question as to the extraordinary work accomplished by the woman who chose me to assist her.
How on earth did I get here? How did this role ever come to find little old me? I can only answer, “It had to be God.” I make that statement with absolute assurance. It has nothing to do with me.
For starters, I initially turned down the role after being asked to apply. While that may sound shocking, my rationale was solidly founded. First and foremost, I wasn’t sure my faith could support the prospective company I was being asked to work for.
My faith means everything to me. After my initial research into the philanthropic organization, I said, “Thanks, but no thanks,” to the recruiter – citing pay as my rationale. The salary threshold being close to my former position’s, it was simple to decline the role with that excuse.
When the recruiter reached out again – a whole week later – assuring me that the employer could go higher, I talked to David. My initial rejection was due to my faith, but that was before a small voice inside me said there may be a godly reason why you should be there. I couldn’t discount that thought.
Countless times in my past, I have felt strongly that my Heavenly Father put me in a position to be His light in a dark place. How could I so quickly turn a similar situation down? Those thoughts filled my head even before the recruiter reached out again. “I need to apply,” I told David. “God is in control. Let’s see what happens.”
What occurred next blew my mind. After submitting my application and writing sample (required in this role), I interviewed with the third-party recruiter. I was asked to meet with the search committee for a second interview one week later. Still unsure of how I felt about the role, I nevertheless wanted to do my best.
Unfortunately, my tech wouldn’t work on the interview day, and my test Zoom call with David, who was in VA Beach then, was a complete failure. “I can’t hear anything you’re saying on the call,” David said. Try as I might, my speakers wouldn’t connect.
Minutes before the interview, I told David I needed to pray.
“You’re in control, Lord Jesus,” I said. “I’m afraid I will look like an absolute fool, but I’m giving this all to you. Please help this work out if it is Your will. Your words. My lips.”
Upon connecting, the hiring manager confirmed my fears. “I can’t hear you,” Helen (name changed) said. Praying silently and frantically again, I clicked something on my computer, and miraculously, everything was perfect. I can’t even be sure what I did. The action must have emanated from God.
Forty-five minutes into the interview, Helen noted that I’d mentioned having “a strong faith” in response to how I handle stress. I further discussed my mission trip to Nicaragua after Helen talked about witnessing global poverty – something I confirmed having also seen first-hand and been affected by.
“You mentioned your faith several times,” Helen noted. “I’m curious about your spiritual journey. You know this is a non-denominational position. Tell me about your faith and how you’d handle working with others whose own path might be very different than your own.”
“I’m a Christian,” I immediately responded. “My faith governs every aspect of my life. It’s who I am and the biggest part of my character. That being said, I completely respect the fact that everyone has to make their own spiritual journey. I will never judge anyone whose experience is different from my own.”
After the interview ended -15 minutes later than initially intended – I called David and my brother to explain what happened during the call. “I’ve never been asked about my faith in an interview before,” I gushed. “No matter what happens, I feel incredibly blessed that God allowed me to testify to what I believe in. God opened my microphone, yes, but He also gave me the voice to say, ‘I’m a Christian’ in profound way.”
A week later, the hiring manager herself called to connect with me again – this time asking me to fly to meet over Labor Day, requesting an entire day to show me around their Center and spend more time with me in in-person. After working out the specifics, my ticket and overnight accommodations were purchased, and my trip was ready to begin.
Despite the devil doing everything to keep me away – including a delayed flight, a missed connection, a canceled flight, and the inability to get an Uber from the airport after midnight – I slept a few hours. I met Helen and a few of her “guests” a short time later for breakfast.
Conversations over the breakfast table left me questioning anew whether this job was right for me.
The on-site events further solidified the same musings. Over the course of the day, I heard about the “Sound Ceremony” the group celebrated the evening before, witnessed an indigenous guest stand in the mud that was “calling him,” and learned that another guest was an astrologer who frequently gave readings to those whose events she participated in.
“These people are worshiping creation,” I later told David. “I worship the Creator. I don’t know if this could ever be right.”
The 500 acres my new employer owns in North Carolina are a testament to the beauty of God’s creation.
For this reason, I told Helen I needed some time to talk to my husband before I could accept the job offer she graciously extended to me at the end of the day. “We wouldn’t have brought you here if we didn’t think you were the one we wanted in this role,” she told me. “I think you’d be perfect for it.”
I couldn’t yet say the same, and Helen was visibly stunned by my admission. I just wasn’t sure and needed to pray.
Later that evening, after talking to David, I began earnestly petitioning God.
“Lord,” I began, “I don’t know what to do. How can this be right for me? I love Helen’s heart already, and the offer is so generous – but how can I do this?”
It was then that the thought came to me, “Tell Helen how you feel.”
I had been transparent throughout every interaction I’d had to that point – even telling Helen about my past abusive relationships, something that shocked me after my admission. Instead of being horrified at my faux pax, Helen told me she was proud of me and said she knew I would use my past to help others in the future. I had been entirely candid with Helen and knew the same thing was required regarding my faith. I needed to explain my thoughts – no matter what happened.
Hard hats were required as I visited a building under construction during my all-day interview.
On the way home the next day, I reached out to one of the chaplains I’d bonded with during my first Samaritan’s Purse work. After explaining the situation and my proposed response, my friend promised to pray that I would have clear guidance regarding what I should do and say.
Following my discussion with David upon my return to VA Beach, I asked Helen if I could talk to her the following day to clarify an important matter. We made plans to speak the next morning.
When Helen and I spoke the following day, I explained how an activity we’d shared on-site had affected me. Two days prior, Helen and another guest had laid flowers on and around a statue I didn’t recognize. The act made me pause, step back, and pray.
“Forgive me, Jesus,” I silently petitioned. “I can’t do that. That’s not right.” After learning that the statue was of a Buddhist goddess, I knew my instincts were correct. I needed to explain the same to Helen.
I picked flowers and vegetables from one of the gardens I visited on my site tour.
“In the garden,” I began, “I didn’t know anything about Quan Yin. but I knew in my heart that I couldn’t do what you were doing. Before we go further, I need to explain there are lines I can’t cross. In Christianity, I can’t offer any worship, adoration, or token to anything other than God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That’s sacred to me. I can’t cross that line.”
“I fully respect that,” Helen said. “In fact, I’ve been thinking we need a Christian on staff to help us in decision making. We may actually take that statue out as I don’t think we should have any icons of any type if we’re going to be non-denominational. If you’d like to” she continued, “I can connect you with someone who may speak your language better than I can.”
After agreeing, Helen introduced me to Mark, co-founder and CEO of Mana Nutrition, an organization that creates ready-to-use (RTU) foods to help the world’s malnourished to survive, sustain, and thrive. Mark and his wife spent ten years as missionaries in Uganda – one of the countries they now serve with their product. Incredibly, their manufacturing facility resides about 2.5 hours northwest of where I live, and they’re currently building a warehouse near my former place of employment. This additional connection to me was profound, considering that their headquarters is in NC.
Adding to that, I was surprised to learn that Mana is primarily funded by the same billionaire that bankrolls my new company. “In fact,” Mark explained, “I’ve known [your potential employer] for the past 13 years.”
Additionally, after hearing my story of how David and I met through Samaritan’s Purse (SP), Mark told me that Mana Nutrition is the number one supplier of RTUs to SP. God’s fingerprints are all over this work – whether they even realize it or not.
As we discussed my trepidation about the role, Mark put my fears to rest. “The way I see it, you’ve been given an opportunity to be a Jesus follower in a rare spot,” – an astute observation that immediately made me smile as it put my spirit at ease. “Think about Paul speaking to the residents in Athens who worshiped so many gods that idol-makers were everywhere. “He didn’t have to go there and talk to them, but he did. We can’t sit in a box and expect to make a difference.”
Over the next few hours, Mark and I spoke of our shared faith, willingness to go wherever God leads, and do whatever we’re asked to do. “You will be challenged more than you’ve ever been in this job,” Mark observed, “but I believe you’re being called to do it.”
I was filled with God’s presence as I walked through the woods during my site tour.
An hour later, I signed the job offer letter and spoke to Helen one last time. “I’m sending you the agreement,” I told her. “I’m so excited to accept.”
“That makes me happy,” Helen said. “I heard from my number two candidate today and she wanted to meet with me in-person. I wasn’t sure what you would say so I didn’t want to turn her away – but I really wanted Sara.” I have no doubt Helen felt my joy at hearing that affirmation as I clapped my hands in response and assured her of my enthusiastic acceptance.
After petitioning God for direction and consulting with other believers, I have perfect peace about this new position. As Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory.” How very true that is!
I always pray that God will guide my steps, open the doors that should be opened, and close those I shouldn’t walk through. Throughout this decision-making process, I believe my Heavenly Father not only opened doors but also blasted down any walls that stood in my way, saying, “Go, my child. I am with you.”
God will always guide us down the paths we should follow, just as He did with me during my all-day interview in the mountains near Marshall, NC.
I can’t even imagine what will lie ahead, but I’m excited to see where God takes me next. While I may have thought I was plotting my course a few times in life, I now know that by surrendering to my Creator, yet again, He is establishing my steps down a path I might never have taken on my own.
To be chosen is one thing. To be given the words, peace, and guidance I prayed for by God is quite another thing entirely. Above all, this I know: I am incredibly blessed.
Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
Over the past decade, our world has become decidedly darker. I don’t mean that in the literal sense, as the sun and moon continue to cycle in the same manner that they always have. I’m talking about morality, decency, and even liberty being under attack like never before in the history of humanity.
We’ve seen more than our share of wickedness permeate our society. Since same-sex marriage was legalized in in 2015, a Pandora’s box of evil and ungodliness was unleashed upon our nation. Sexuality has replaced the sanctity of life. Children are told that their gender is dependent upon how they feel rather than how God created them. Legislators, doctors, and even parents have endorsed and allowed minors to butcher their bodies without thought of their future psyches. “Pride” in sexuality is celebrated in the workplace. Our nation’s military touts gender diversity over strength and preparedness. Parents are labeled as domestic terrorists by our government’s highest agencies for daring to stand up to school boards pushing indoctrination, victimhood, and perversity on minors. Many church denominations now condone same-sex marriage and allow spiritual leaders to live in same-sex relationships openly. Over 63 million babies have been aborted in America since abortion became legal in 1973. Our nation – and, in fact, the world – can’t sink much lower in morality.
Even seemingly neutral subjects like sporting events have taken a decidedly deep dive over the past decade. In addition to the consistently outrageous mindset that transgender athletes – read that as men who identify as women – should be allowed to participate in and dominate women’s sports – we now have the organizers of this year’s Olympic games taking a pot-shot at Christianity in their opening event.
Gone is the parade of athletes formerly featured at the world’s Olympic games. Instead, this year’s Summer Olympics opening featured a disturbing recreation of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” In a live and profoundly irreverent interpretation of the same, the artistic director of the opening, Thomas Jolly, utilized Drag Queens in lingerie as the disciples, an obese woman in a low-cut, sequined garment sporting a halo, chains, and tattoos as Christ, and even more uncomfortably, a child seated at the table, surrounded by this debauchery. When I first read the headline announcing the same, I had to ask, “What on earth does poking fun at one of the most meaningful events in Christian history have to do with sports?” Seemingly nothing. But that didn’t matter to the event organizers.
Advocates of this blasphemous display worked hard to defend it for two days – insisting that the tableau was not “The Last Supper” but rather an artistic interpretation of a festival of Dionysus. After all, the production also featured a blue-painted actor sprawled astride a lavish serving dish on the same table where the Drag Queens posed – seemingly depicting the Greek God.
As the outcry continued, organizers of Paris 2024 later admitted, “For the ‘Festivities’ segment, Thomas Jolly took inspiration from Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous painting to create the setting.” Jolly ultimately referred to his presentation as a celebration of “tolerance” – despite its blatant intolerance and mockery of Christianity.
So, what caused organizers to bow and apologize to anyone who saw this display as it was intended – as a degradation of our faith in a completely inappropriate venue? They could have maintained their tight-lipped stance regarding what some have declared a simple “parody” of a sacred event. As Paris 2024 explained, “[Jolly] is not the first artist to make a reference to what is a world-famous work of art. From Andy Warhol to ‘The Simpsons,’ many have done it before him.”
Was it the profound condemnation of the event that filled social media accounts over the weekend that caused the tables to turn? After all, many noteworthy leaders spoke out against the performance.
Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla and owner of X, wrote on his platform, “This was extremely disrespectful to Christians.”
Harrison Butker, the Kansas City Chiefs kicker who recently made headlines by standing for his faith at a college commencement ceremony, responded to the controversy by quoting scripture. “Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the spirit, of the spirit shall reap life everlasting.’ Galatians 6:7-8.”
Radio host Clint Russell observed, “There are 2.4 billion Christians on earth and apparently the Olympics wanted to declare loudly to all of them, right out of the gate NOT WELCOME.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on X, “The war on our faith and traditional values knows no bounds today. But we know that truth and virtue will always prevail.” Johnson, like many others, backed his statement by quoting scripture: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini also issued a statement that read, “Opening the Olympics by insulting billions of Christians around the world was a really bad start, dear French.”
Despite this outrage, it wasn’t until advertisers like TN-based tech company C Spire used their wallets to pull event advertisements that organizers suddenly seemed to care about the controversy. As C Spire posted on X, “We were shocked by the mockery of the Last Supper during the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics. C Spire will be pulling our advertising…”
Twenty-four hours later, Paris 24 organizers half-heartedly apologized by saying, “Clearly, there was never an intention to show disrespect towards any religious group or belief.” When money is involved, everyone listens.
Events such as this will hardly end after this controversy. The world will remain dark and continue to manipulate whatever it can to gain attention, satisfy powerful perversions, and mock the light of the world – Jesus Christ.
The question is, how publicly are we willing to stand up for our faith? Will we do so even when others stand against us? Will we speak the truth to a lost world, even when threatened with hate speech, fear-mongering, and public ridicule? How many of us are ready to take a stand when the prince of this world – the devil himself – wants us to fall?
I’m committed to staying plugged into the Word of Christ – one of the surest ways to remain strong in the faith. David and I are vigilant in reading scripture together every night. We know that things aren’t getting better for Christians in the world. In fact, the fires will assuredly become hotter and more hostile towards anyone who proclaims the name of Jesus in the future.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to put on the armor of the Lord. Without it, we, as Christians, can never “take up the shield of faith, with which [we] can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” (Ephesians 6:16)
The battle is only beginning. Gird up your loins and prepare. If we intend to bring God’s light into a blindingly dark world, we must stay attached to its source – Jesus Christ.
If we do, no matter what happens, even after we’ve done everything, we will still stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
