‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3’

The last two weeks have abruptly shown  that life is very fragile. It should be stamped in red letters:  “Handle with Extreme Care.” One day you go along as always blissfully unaware of the road dropping precipitously just ahead of you. Nothing will really be the same from then on. Recently it happened twice to us.

 Last week I was thinking of nothing more than the joy of finally visiting with our children and grandchildren in Couer D’Alene  and ignored the fact that I wasn’t feeling quite right. I was just “off the mark a little,” I thought.   Several hours later, my vision doubled, I couldn’t walk straight and kept dropping things, unable to pick them up. In short, I had a mini stroke or TIA. I thank God that it was minor with no side effects, that He kept me safe and must have had a fire ring of angels around Dan and me. But with a history of past stroke and probable other TIA’s,  this is a wake up call for sure – pay attention.  Make necessary changes. Life is extremely  fragile.

Additionally, our daughter  requires serious surgery.  When the doctor mentioned the  possibility of the dreaded “C” word, my heart almost stopped. That’s what fear does – it bypasses reason and creates an emotional quicksand of “what if’’s? I read once about the “tyranny of the moment”, those unholy thoughts and fears which consume our souls to steal our peace and hope.   Medical issues by their nature are powerful tyrants – (think of  the coronavirus’ tenacious grip on people’s minds ) – because we’re no longer in control of our own bodies and have to entrust ourselves to doctors most of whom are strangers.  

I am so grateful to live in a country where we can have access to the best medical services, physicians and diagnostic information available. I am grateful that today’s medicine is far more effective  from even 25 years ago when a stroke, heart attack or cancer were  practically death warrants. How can I not thank  our Father for the life He gives to me  and to my loved ones each morning?  I’m grateful that physicians  who at one time promised “to do no harm” are still called to the highest standards of care.

Nevertheless, I must admit to frustrations:  waiting to see a doctor,  waiting for schedulers to set time and dates,  waiting to hear back when a phone call is missed, waiting for results. It’s a given I am not very good at this waiting which doesn’t seem of the Lord but more like  slow cogs in gargantuan  medical systems. The enemy knows exactly where to attack by making me  frustrated, fearful and anxious, especially about those I love.

My wake up call is to be responsible for making healthy changes. But more than that it’s acknowledging, believing, and practicing that Jesus is the Primary Physician who “by His stripes heals us.” He alone has all authority over every aspect of my life as it continues to change. The Father’s will in life, sickness and death will always be for good and not evil. When the world turns upside down, we have immediate access to the Father who loves us. He is  closer than skin and bone.  He knows our very  frightened thoughts before we can utter them and sends the Holy Spirit, Comforter to help us in weak moments.  How often  Jesus promised never to leave us nor forsake us and that in Him we will find healing and peace of mind, no matter what a medical diagnosis claims. 

The Father of Jesus never puts us on hold (with cheesy background music to distract us),  never has to check His too busy schedule or send us first to an assistant. He always has time for His beloved children.  We don’t ever  have to make a weeks out appointment to speak with the Father. His Word  says   to call out to Him wherever and however we are. His promise is to hear our prayers and answer. Thus, when bad news comes, where should we turn to first and foremost? To human doctors or to the Lord?  There is a  choice but reliance on   medicine alone can easily become our “tyranny of the moments”. Rather go first to God in prayer, empowered by His faithful  promises . As the psalmist says,

I will lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, Make of heaven and earth. Psalm 121

Therein is Christian hope and witness. While doctors are meant to treat illness,  manage the process and   attempt cures, they don’t have the power to actually heal. That belongs to the One in whom we are reborn, Jesus , Life Source and Healer.