Facing Death But Finding God's PresenceFacing Death But Finding God's Presence
The Call with Nancy Sabato
Greg Hershberg shares a raw story of severe illness, near-death surgery, and deep spiritual doubt, alongside moments where he sensed God’s presence. The conversation focuses on pain, faith, family, and learning to talk honestly to God in the middle of suffering.
20:37•13 Jul 2026
Facing Death, Questioning God, and Finding He Never Left
Episode Overview
- Greg describes a series of life-threatening complications, including blood staph infection, organ failure, and unprecedented vascular surgery.
- He shares the emotional pain of calling each of his four children to say goodbye, highlighting the depth of their bond.
- Greg admits to a crisis of faith, questioning God and asking for even a small sign that his suffering had meaning.
- He recounts sensing God’s assurance that He had never left him during any procedure or hospital stay.
- Greg encourages people to build an intimate, honest relationship with God, speaking to Him as a Father rather than trying to impress Him.
“"It’s not about surviving the impossible, although it was. It’s more about a God who doesn’t leave."”
How do people find hope in the darkest times? This conversation between host Nancy Sabato and guest Greg Hershberg leans straight into that question with a story that’s anything but neat and tidy. Greg shares his experience of spending nearly 50 days between life and death: blood staph infection, kidney failure, dialysis, major open surgery, and seven days on life support with "no chance" to live.
He talks about phoning each of his four children to say goodbye, describing those calls as "poison" and "gut-wrenching", and then waking up to hear his surgeon say he had removed Greg’s aorta and iliac arteries in a procedure he’d never done before. When the surgeon later told him, "All I know is somebody up there likes you," Greg replied that a "phenomenon and a miracle is synonymous." This isn’t just a medical survival story though.
Greg admits to a deep crisis of faith, wondering if he’d made everything up and asking God for the smallest sign that his suffering wasn’t pointless. He explains how he came to sense God saying, "Every surgery, every procedure, every CT scan, I was always right next to you. I never left you," and how that changed him into a calmer, quieter version of himself: "I don’t even recognise myself anymore. I’m not sure who I am.
But I know who God is." For those living with illness, emotional anguish, or spiritual doubt, Greg’s raw honesty might feel like a relief. He talks openly about wanting to die, about Satan "whispering" in his weakest moments, and about churches that shine up people’s chains instead of seeing them broken. His closing encouragement? Spend real, quality time talking to God as a Father who already knows everything on your heart.
If you’ve ever wondered where God is in your worst moments, this story might be worth your time—what would you say to Him if you were standing at death’s door?
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