Who Owns My Life? | Edith Rae | Nov 23, 2025

Three months ago, I experienced the sudden loss of my father, a moment that stripped away all illusions of control and left my family and me in deep grief. Death, in its finality, exposes our vulnerability and reminds us of our limits. In recent days, I have also sat with friends who are dying, entering that sacred space where words often fail and presence becomes the greatest gift. These experiences, along with my work among the suffering and dying, have made the questions of death, dignity, and suffering intensely personal and real.

We live in a culture that idolizes autonomy, health, and longevity, often framing debates about life and death in terms of individual rights. Yet, as followers of Christ, we are called to filter these cultural assumptions through the lens of God’s Word. The foundational question is not about rights, but about ownership: Who owns our lives? Scripture, especially Psalm 139, reveals that our lives are not our own. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, knit together by God, and our days are written in His book. Life is a gift, not a possession, and our dignity is rooted in being beloved children of God, not in our abilities, independence, or accomplishments.

The legalization and rapid expansion of medical assistance in dying (MAID) in Canada raises profound ethical and spiritual questions. While the desire to relieve suffering is understandable, the primary reasons people seek MAID are often rooted in fear of losing autonomy, being a burden, or lacking meaning. Autonomy, however, is an illusion; we are created for connection and community, not for radical independence. Our lives are deeply intertwined, and our choices affect others.

Suffering is a reality none of us seek, but it is not meaningless. At the center of our faith is Jesus, the suffering servant, who entered into our pain and transformed it through His death and resurrection. Figures like Joni Eareckson Tada and Mother Teresa remind us that even in suffering, life retains its worth and dignity. The Christian response is not to eliminate suffering by eliminating the sufferer, but to offer faithful presence, robust care, and deep community. We are called to bear one another’s burdens, to see Christ in the least and the suffering, and to be a family for those who have none.

In the face of death and suffering, we hold to the hope that God is with us, that death is a defeated enemy, and that one day He will wipe away every tear. Until then, we are called to be faithfully present, to love, to serve, and to witness to the truth that every life is precious in God’s sight.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Life is a Gift, Not a Possession Our lives are not our own; they are a gift from God, who lovingly created and sustains us. This truth grounds our identity and ethics, reminding us that our value does not depend on our abilities, health, or independence. Recognizing life as a gift calls us to humility, gratitude, and reverence before our Creator. [16:24]
• 2. Suffering Can Hold Deep Meaning While suffering is never easy or desirable, it is not without purpose. Christ Himself entered into suffering, showing us that God is present in our pain and can bring growth, character, and hope through it. Rather than seeking to eliminate all suffering, we are invited to find God’s presence and redemptive work within it. [32:21]
• 3. Community Over Autonomy The modern emphasis on autonomy is an illusion; we are created for interdependence and belonging. Our choices, especially around life and death, impact others and reveal our need for community. The church is called to be a family, bearing one another’s burdens and affirming that no person is ever a burden. [42:33]
• 4. Faithful Presence in the Face of Suffering Our calling is not to fix or solve every problem, but to be faithfully present with those who suffer. This means offering practical help, deep listening, and loving companionship, seeing each person as made in God’s image. In doing so, we reflect Christ’s love and fulfill His command to care for the least of these. [45:11]
• 5. Hope Anchored in Christ’s Victory Death and suffering do not have the final word. Through Christ’s death and resurrection, we have hope that God will one day wipe away every tear and make all things new. In the meantime, we live in hope, trusting that God is near to the brokenhearted and that our suffering is not wasted. [39:48]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [03:25] - The Sudden Loss of My Father
• [04:43] - Sitting With the Dying
• [06:48] - Wrestling With Suffering and Pain
• [10:02] - Hard Questions About Life and Death
• [12:59] - Responsibility Over Rights
• [15:03] - Biblical Foundations: Psalm 139
• [18:52] - Our Value and Dignity in God
• [21:57] - The Legalization of MAID in Canada
• [25:11] - Why People Seek Assisted Death
• [27:23] - The Illusion of Autonomy
• [29:53] - The Meaning of Suffering
• [32:21] - Christ’s Suffering and Our Hope
• [36:11] - The Witness of Joni Eareckson Tada
• [38:27] - Mother Teresa: Seeing Jesus in the Suffering
• [42:33] - No Person Is Ever a Burden
• [44:24] - Practices of Faithful Presence
• [46:43] - Closing Prayer

1. According to Psalm 139, what does it mean that God “knit us together” and that all our days are “written in His book”? How does this shape our understanding of life’s value? [15:54]
2. In Philippians 2, what attitude does Paul say we should have toward others, and how did Jesus model this? [31:29]
3. The sermon mentions that many people seek medical assistance in dying not because of pain, but because of fear of losing autonomy or being a burden. What reasons were listed as most common? [25:11]
4. What does Galatians 6:2 say about our responsibility to each other, especially in times of suffering? [43:14]

1. The sermon says, “Life is a gift, not a possession.” How does this idea challenge the way our culture talks about autonomy and individual rights? [16:24]
2. The speaker shared personal stories of loss and sitting with the dying. How might these experiences help us understand what it means to be “faithfully present” with those who suffer? [04:43]
3. Philippians 2 describes Jesus as a “suffering servant.” What does it mean for Christians to follow Jesus’ example in the context of suffering and caring for others? [32:21]
4. The sermon claims that “no person is ever a burden.” How does this statement challenge common fears or assumptions about aging, illness, or disability? [42:33]

1. The sermon describes life as a gift from God, not something we own. Is there an area of your life where you struggle to see it as a gift rather than something you control? How might gratitude or humility change your perspective this week? [16:24]
2. When you think about suffering—either your own or someone else’s—do you tend to avoid it, try to fix it, or ignore it? What would it look like for you to be “faithfully present” with someone who is suffering right now? [45:11]
3. The speaker shared that many people fear being a burden to others. Have you ever felt like a burden, or worried about being one? How did you respond, and how can the church community help change this narrative? [25:11]
4. The sermon challenges the idea of radical independence and calls us to community. What is one practical way you can bear someone else’s burden this week, even if it’s inconvenient? [43:14]
5. The hope of Christ’s victory over death is central to our faith. How does this hope affect the way you face grief, loss, or fear of death? Is there a specific situation where you need to remind yourself of this hope? [39:48]
6. The speaker mentioned small acts of care—like meals, cards, or simply being present—as ways to show faithful presence. Is there someone in your life who needs this kind of care right now? What is one thing you can do for them this week? [46:08]
7. Reflecting on the idea that “every life is precious in God’s sight,” is there a person or group you find it hard to value or care for? What step could you take to see them more as God does? [18:52]