Anchored in Faith: A Father’s Testimony of Grace in Adversity

 

Faith is not just a religious sentiment; it's the invisible anchor that holds us steady through the storms of life. In moments when logic fails, when plans fall apart, and when the path ahead is uncertain, it is faith in the Almighty that becomes our compass. It is that quiet voice that says, “Hold on. This too shall pass.”

Faith: A Quiet Force

Unlike fear or doubt, faith often speaks in a whisper. It doesn’t demand proof , it simply trusts the process. Faith isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about believing even when we don’t. It is what steadies our trembling hearts when life throws us into the unknown.

When Life Changed Forever

On 23rd October 2010, my world turned upside down. My elder son, Arjun, met with a high-velocity road accident. The spinal injury he sustained rendered him paraplegic from the waist down. As a father, it was devastating. But I clung to my faith , convinced that he would bounce back, that the Almighty would carry us through.

We began intensive physiotherapy, navigating hospitals, therapies, and an entirely altered way of life. While we were still grappling with Arjun’s recovery, life threw another curveball.

On 11th August 2011 , less than a year later , my younger son, Jaideep, met with a serious accident on his way home from college. His motorcycle lost balance after hitting debris on the road. He sustained a traumatic head injury ,an epidural hematoma (EDH) and a hairline skull fracture.

I was numb. Two life-altering events in less than a year. I had always tried to lead an honest, simple life. Why were we being tested like this? I was at my wit’s end.

But as I would soon learn , when darkness surrounds us, God often sends His angels.

An Angel in Disguise

On that fateful afternoon, as Jaideep lay unconscious on the road, an elderly Sikh gentleman ,a complete stranger , happened to pass by. He was returning from Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and was carrying amrit (holy water).

He sprinkled it over my son, took Jaideep’s phone, and called me. The accident site was close, and I rushed there immediately.

The man looked at me with calm assurance and said in Punjabi,
“Enha de sir da dhyan dena. Ena nu sir te sath waji hai, par ena nu kujh vi nahin hona. Main Bangla Sahib da amrit chirak ditta hai. Hun wapas jaake Gurudware vich ena de sehet layi ardas karanga. Tusi chinta na karo. Ena nu hospital le jao.”
("Take care of his head. He’s hit his head, but nothing will happen to him. I’ve sprinkled amrit from Bangla Sahib and will now return to the Gurdwara to pray for his recovery. Take him to the hospital. He will be fine.")

His words stayed with me.

Between Faith and Medical Advice

Jaideep was rushed to the Army Base Hospital. For the next few days, my wife and I took turns , one attending to Arjun, the other by Jaideep’s side. Jaideep couldn’t speak and could only communicate through signs. My heart was shattered.

MRI scans were sent for multiple opinions , Medanta and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital both strongly advised immediate brain surgery.

But the treating doctor at the Army Hospital , a young South Indian Major , urged a more conservative approach. “Sir,” he said gently, “I believe medication and rest will help him recover. Surgery might not be necessary.”

I was torn. Whom should I trust?

That night, I visited Bangla Sahib Gurdwara as I had begun doing every day since the accident. Early next morning, I received a phone call enquiring about Jaideep’s progress.

It was him , the same elderly Sikh sewadaar who had first helped Jaideep. His voice was calm, and his message unwavering: “Trust the Army doctor. Don’t go for surgery.”

It felt like divine intervention.

We followed the doctor’s advice. And within two weeks, Jaideep regained his voice and began to recover steadily. I wept with relief.

Faith vs Control

As humans, we try to control outcomes. But faith teaches us something different , to surrender, not in defeat, but in trust. To say, “I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow.”

There’s strength in letting go , in placing our burdens in the Almighty’s hands.

Faith Builds Resilience

Faith doesn’t shield us from pain, but it gives us the courage to endure it. It lends us peace in chaos and hope in despair. It helped my family walk through one of the darkest chapters of our lives without breaking.

It didn’t eliminate the hardship. But it helped us carry it.

Expressions of Faith

Faith takes many forms. For some, it’s prayer. For others, meditation, service, or silent gratitude. It’s not about ritual, it’s about sincerity. It’s about believing in a divine plan even when you can’t see the full picture.

For me, those 40 days of early morning prayers at Bangla Sahib became my lifeline. They strengthened my resolve, calmed my fears, and reminded me “God was with us.”

Conclusion: When Faith is All You Have

In a world that chases certainty, faith remains beautifully irrational  and yet, so incredibly powerful. It reminds us that we are never truly alone. That somewhere, beyond our understanding, the Almighty is gently orchestrating our journey.

As I reflect today, I know we were carried by a force far greater than ourselves.

“Faith is seeing light with your heart when all your eyes see is darkness.”