Embracing faith in the in-between
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9 (NIV)
In the multicultural, multiethnic, multifaith milieu of our lives – clinicians, educators, support staff, and learners, there are moments of clarity and certainty when the path ahead seems clear and attainable. Yet, often nestled within this journey, there are moments of transition, the in-between spaces, where certainty falters, and we find ourselves in liminality.
1 Peter 1:8-9 speaks to the essence of faith transcending the visible, anchoring our belief in something beyond what our eyes behold. Similarly, healthcare delivery and education often straddle the threshold between certainty and ambiguity, where diagnosis, treatment, and learning converge.
In the healthcare setting, practitioners often navigate through the in-between. These moments occur in the waiting rooms of diagnoses, the operating rooms of uncertainty, and the bedside vigils where faith in healing intertwines with the unknown. In these spaces, faith is more than a personal belief; it becomes a guiding light amid complex medical decisions and unpredictable outcomes.
Healthcare education, too, involves liminality. It’s a journey of transition, where aspiring professionals move from theory to practice, from the classroom to the clinic. Faith intertwines with knowledge in this in-between, shaping compassionate caregivers who heal bodies and nurture souls.
As we move toward the calendar year’s end, we face varying thresholds of possibility and uncertainty. As caregivers, educators, and support staff at LLUH, we are called to embody faith within these thresholds. Continuing in the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus, we offer medical expertise, empathy, and spiritual support. We are reminders that God’s presence remains unwavering amidst the uncertainty. We provide each other with a listening ear, compassion, grace, patience, creativity, and steadfast love.
As we go about the business of LLUH, may we find solace in knowing that our faith is not in the certainty of outcomes but in the One who holds all things together. Amid the uncertainty, may God grant us the strength to trust His divine plan. May we work together to be beacons of hope, love, and joy in the liminal moments of health and healing. May our faith shine unwaveringly as we walk alongside those in need, reflecting God’s everlasting love.
—Dilys Brooks, PhD, BCC, is campus chaplain for Loma Linda University.
