practising the presence of Christ

Sherin Sam looks at what it means to actively seek God’s presence in the everyday

Moses encountered God in the burning bush. The Israelites experienced him on Mount Horeb – powerful, visible, unforgettable moments. In the twenty-first century, our encounters with God may not look the same.

For me, practising the presence of Christ means becoming aware of his character being formed in me. Galatians 5:22-23 (New Living Translation) says: ‘But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control’.

These qualities – the fruit of the Spirit – are God’s attributes expressed in and through us, even in life’s most ordinary or demanding moments. It’s about noticing his presence in the everyday.

As someone working in an Intensive Care Unit, I often feel stretched to my limits. There have been days I’ve cried out, ‘I’m done. I can’t keep working here.’ I’ve felt intimidated by the experience of my superiors – and even by my struggles with English as it’s not my first language.

I remember one specific day. I was assigned to a critically ill patient – the sickest I’d ever cared for. Overwhelmed, I stepped away to find a quiet place and ended up in a washroom. It wasn’t ideal, but there I cried out to God, asking for courage, peace, patience, and above all, love for that patient.

Though the day remained challenging, something changed. I experienced a strength beyond my own: patience under pressure, genuine love for the patient, and surprising peace. That, to me, was the quiet, powerful presence of Christ.

The fruit of the Spirit is not just a list – it reveals who God is:

● ‘God is love’ (1 John 4:8).
● ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10).
● ‘Peace, I leave with you…Do not let your hearts be troubled’ (John 14:27).
● ‘The Lord…slow to anger, abounding in love’ (Exodus 34:6).
● ‘The kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared’ (Titus 3:4).
● ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good’ (Psalm 34:8).
● ‘Great is your faithfulness’ (Lamentations 3:23).
● ‘I am gentle and humble in heart’ (Matthew 11:29).
● ‘The Lord’s patience means salvation’ (2 Peter 3:15).

When we practise his presence, we reflect his nature, even in the most unexpected places.

Sherin Sam is an adult nurse working in Oxford in Critical Care