I wasn't going to blog on this at first, but as I have reflected on this, I think I can blog on this without giving anyone's identity away. I hope this will encourage you as much as it has and is encouraging me.
My friend's email subject caught my eye as it entered my inbox ... something like, "I need your prayers NOW." My good friend has a pretty steady, sunny personality, so I knew something was up. In her email she explained that her best friend was in the hospital, having bled in her brain after a bad fall in which she basically landed on the back side of her head. At that moment she was noncommunicative, paralyzed, and not breathing on her own.
I felt like the Lord wanted me to get over there as quickly as I could. I'm no hero, I just know when God is talking to me - and for a change I decided I'd better do what I heard Him telling me to do. So later that day my friend and I met by her friend's bedside (let's call her friend Mary) in the ICU to pray.
One of the men in our church works as an ICU nurse, and he happened to be on duty. I invited him to stay and pray with us. There were four of us (including Mary's Mom), with hands joined around the bed. Mary's Mom and I held Mary's hands. I prayed and sang a couple verses of "Amazing Grace" to her. She seemed restless before I began to sing and calmer as I sang. This, again, is just due to God. I can take NO credit.
The next day I emailed my friend and asked if I could meet her to pray with Mary again. She said sure, and said, "Yesterday, you prayed on her right side, and today, she has movement on her right side. Do you think we could pray on her left side today?" At first I though, "I'm no faith healer!" but I knew to keep my mouth shut. I might not be a faith healer, but Jesus is the Great Physician, and the Father wants us to bring our requests and petitions to Him. So I prayed on her right side. It was a couple days, but her right side began to show some promise.
The doctors were concerned about inner organs shutting down, and the next day I saw her, Mary was having a bad day. Her breathing was fast and labored, even on the machine, and the hospital staff was clearly concerned. I prayed with her and sang to her anyway, but it seemed to have no effect. Mary's Mom was with her the majority of every day. She looked very tired and discouraged that day. Her kids came every day after work - her daughter was there when I came that day and she looked equally discouraged.
I left the hospital with a sinking feeling that I may not return to pray for and sing with Mary again.
I returned the next day in time to offer a quick word of prayer before surgery, and talk briefly with Mary's Mom and son.
I heard from my friend that Mary had made it through surgery. We visited her together shortly afterward. She wasn't in ICU any more! She was in a regular room. As we came to the room, nurses and doctors were in and out, clearly trying to solve a problem that had come up. Mary's daughter was there, and came out in the hall to talk with us. She said something about Mary making a list of items to get for her from home!
Four weeks ago, Mary was lying on her bed in a semi-coma (that's my analysis, not medical). She was badly bruised all over her face. Her eyes were pretty much shut, or else her eyelids fluttered. She was restless, but seeminly unconscious and unable to communicate. Now she was making lists, clearly thinking.
Three weeks ago, during surgery, the doctors put in a "trach" (spelling?) so they could take the breathing tubes out of her nose, but keep her breathing.
Two weeks ago I visited and she was breathing through the trach ON HER OWN. Her eyes were open - I was struck by how beautiful her eyes were, and the joyous sparkle she had when her friend and I walked into her room. And she was mouthing words!
After a little bit of small talk around the room, I asked if I could pray for her. Mary suddenly dropped my friend's hand and reached out for mine. We all joined hands around the bed and prayed again for Mary's continued mending and healing. I got to sing a verse of "How Great Thou Art," and afterward Mary clapped and mouthed the words, "I'm so happy."
When I got home I shared all of this with my wife. "Of course," she beamed, "the prayer of a righteous man availeth much." I knew what had gone through my mind that day. I knew the temptations I had entertained, given into, the thoughts I had - the bad attitudes I harbor and sometimes display. I'm not righteous, but thank God - through His grace, by faith I am made righteous through the blood of Christ!
I stopped by to see Mary last week - as it turns out it was her last full day in the hospital. Her eyes were bright and she was able to whisper enough for me to get the essence of what she was saying. She's now in a medical rehabilitation facility. I don't know what might happen to Mary in the long-run, but I know God is able to heal if that's what will bring Him the most glory. And I also have had a tremendous reminder of a favorite promise,
"Nothing is impossible with God."
As we pray, we can pray with expectation. We should pray and ask God for what we want, believing that if He will, He can give it to us. I'm not talking about a new Porsche... but a new life, healing, provision, spiritual growth, blessings for others, discipline for ourselves, spiritual victory, a second chance... these are wonderful things to ask of God. May He be praised!
