A quote that has great meaning to me and my theological conviction is from John Wesley, "The best of all is, God is with us." One of the most comforting truths for me is the ever-present reality that God is with us. God’s presence in my life is one of the greatest gifts God has given me. This was the background of the quote and the impact it has made to me as a leader. This is from the journal of John Wesley of the account of John Wesley’s final days and hours. His daughter Betsey Ritchie states,
“…some of those who were most used to hear our dear Father’s dying voice would be able to interpret his meaning; but though he strove to speak we were still unsuccessful: finding we could not understand what he said, he paused a little, and then with all the remaining strength he had, cried out, ‘The best of all is, God is with us”; and then, as if to assert the faithfulness of our promise-keeping Jehovah and comfort the hearts of his weeping friends, lifting up his dying arm in token of victory and raising his feeble voice with a holy triumph not to be xpressed, again repeated the heart-reviving words, “The best of all is, God is with us!” The Journal of John Wesley, ed., Percy Livingstone Parker, (Chicago, IL: Moody Press), 419
I believe the reality of God’s presence was what he held onto in his final moments. I often think about what gets me through each day with the changes and challenges that come. I believe that the example of the way John Wesley lived and lead to grow small group leaders to continue to make disciples has impacted my life. I believe that God has come to live in us and through us even in the best and worst of times in our lives. God will never leave me nor forsake me. I must lead this way and be real. I must understand that there are going to be bad days and know that God is still there and to share my true feelings and my character is to reflect my belief that, the best of all is, God is with us."