God, In Every Heartbeat

by Bermie Dizon

In 2007, Gabriela Guzman was facing the fight of her life. Years of heart failure had weakened her body. Every breath was a struggle.

Her only hope was a heart transplant—and then, on October 31, 2007, at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, the miracle came.

The transplant was a success. A new heart now beats inside her.

But the story didn’t end there.

About a year later, Gabriela reached out to the family of her donor, a young person whose death gave her life.

She wrote a letter filled with gratitude, which began a beautiful and enduring relationship with the donor’s mother. They’ve since become like family, bonded by a heartbeat that once belonged to one and now lives on in another.

This story stirs something deep in me. Not only because of its humanity, but because it echoes the very heartbeat of the Gospel.

God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

Jesus didn’t just come to make us better. He came to make us new. We weren’t just weak—we were spiritually dead. Yet He chose to lay down His life, to stop His own heartbeat, so that ours could begin again.

When I think of Gabriela, whose life continues because someone else gave theirs, I’m reminded of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love.

But there’s one key difference: Jesus gave His heart, knowing exactly who He was dying for. Me. You. And not just to save our lives, but to make His life beat in us.

To love through us. To live with us. Every moment. Every breath. Every heartbeat!

Gabriela lives with a new heart she didn’t earn. So do I. And the most fitting response is what she has done: express thanks.

Stay connected to the Giver. And live a life worthy of the gift.

So today, I pause and listen. Beneath the noise of my day, I hear a rhythm deep in me.

And it’s not mine—it’s His. Beating in me. Loving through me. Whispering, “You are alive because I live in you.”

Reflection Questions:

1. What areas of your life feel like they need a heart transplant?
2. How can you express daily gratitude to Jesus for the new heart he’s given you?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for the gift of a new heart—one filled with Your life and love. I didn’t earn it. But You gave it freely, through the cross. Let my life be a daily thank-you letter. Help me live in a way that reflects Your heartbeat in me. Amen.

BERMIE DIZON is a retired pastor of Grace Communion International (GCI), Glendora, California, and a former writer for USA Tribune for nine years. He is also the author of the book “God, In Every Step,” which is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, and other outlets.