Our Relationship With God Has Gone To New Depths

It’s easy to talk about faith in the pulpit, but the real test comes when you have to live it out, say Adam and Joelle Brian

- Adam And Joelle Brian

Adam Brian’s faith has been put to the test in the last few years. The associate minister at Formby Elim grew up in a Christian home, but recently his relationship with God has gone to new depths.

Brian’s daughter Helena was born with severe medical issues and had to have 30 operations shortly after her birth. Then, more recently, his wife Joelle had to have open-heart surgery.

It’s been a lot to manage for the couple – who are both 31 – but their faith in Christ is stronger than ever.

Adam says he clung to a famous Bible story to help him through the fiery trials.

“There is a really hard passage in Daniel 3 where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are told they will be thrown into a furnace if they don’t bow down to the idol King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They answer the king, ‘If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from your majesty’s hand.

“But even if he does not, we want you to know, your majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Faith in an outcome is very different from faith in God despite the outcome!

“We found out last November that Jo would need surgery to correct a faulty valve in her heart. There were days leading up to the operation where I’d just find myself crying over a cheese sandwich or rehearsing through my head the best way of breaking the bad news to our children.