Friends
The power of prayer is amazing! Can I get an “Amen” on that?
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“The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand;”
Psalm 121:5 – NIV
I have spent most of my life within hospital walls. As a nurse, I walked those long white corridors millions of times. I passed through crowded waiting rooms on a daily basis. I stood beside worried loved ones in cold metal elevators as we moved ever so slowly from floor to floor.
I always tried to be courteous, volunteering a kind smile as I patiently offered directions to visitors trying to navigate the confusing hospital hallways. I tried to be pleasant and present, but the reality was that my mind was often a million miles away, running down the length of my to-do list, problem solving the issues of the day.
I thought I was being empathetic. I thought I understood what all those worried family members were going through. Now I know that I didn’t. Now, seated in a crowded hospital waiting room, I realize that I really had no idea how hard the waiting is for those relegated to wait.
I pondered these things as I sat waiting for word on my mother-in-law’s surgical outcome. The truth is that things feel quite different when you are the one doing the waiting. It feels different when the caregivers are caring for your loved one instead of the other way around.
Now I know how easy it is to feel lost and alone in a waiting room packed with people. Without a doubt, fear and frustration have a way of finding you when you take a seat in one of those uncomfortable hospital chairs.
However, interestingly enough, as I sat in that surgical waiting room, I noticed those feelings, felt them ping against the walls of my heart, but instead of sticking, they bounced off and floated away. Why? Why didn’t those feelings of fear and frustration linger? I believe the answer is quite simple. It’s the power of prayer.
Long before we walked through the hospital doors last Tuesday morning, we were covered in prayer. Our loved ones were praying. Our friends were praying. Our church families and neighbors were lifting all of us up in prayer. My phone was blowing up with messages, all saying the same thing, “Praying!”
And you know what? Eric and I felt it. My mother-in-law Liz felt it. Each of us slept well despite the 6AM arrival time. Certainly we were concerned, perhaps even a little nervous. Still, regardless of the stress of the situation, it was Crystal clear to me that God’s peace was enveloping our little group of three.
Even better, God put a song on my heart. I woke up singing the lyrics, the beautiful words streaming on a constant replay, as if set in motion by all those prayers being lifted heavenward. God met me in that moment and gave me this song. Listen to these powerful words:
“Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps,
So this is my story, this is my song,
Praising my risen King and Savior all the day long.”*
Yes! How about that? My mind focused on the words, “Perfect submission,”* and the words of Proverbs 3:5-6 came to me. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV).
“All is at rest.”* That phrase brought Matthew 11:28 into focus, ““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28, NIV).
Then my brain latched onto the next set of words, “I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps.”* Hmmm…Wow! The author of tomorrow, the risen King and Savior, the Lord God Almighty, sees me, sees us, knows our plight, feels our concerns, and He, our Sovereign Creator, has ordered my steps for today, our steps for every day to come.
As the melody played on in my head, the words of Jeremiah 29:11 flowed into my thoughts, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).
As the prayers of our people wrapped us in a hedge of protection, I embraced the truth that when we fully submit to The Lord’s will, we find rest for our souls. When we accept that His plan is far better than any plan we could ever make, we cease striving. When we understand that we don’t, have to figure it all out because the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present God already has a good plan for us, a plan for hope and a future, we can relax and let Him work it all out.
No matter the outcome of this surgery or any other problem that invades my life in the days to come, I know the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps. He has, and will, place me on a path that will bring hope and a future.
These were comforting thoughts that found me in that waiting room, but there was more. There was more to that song than just the verse. Here came the chorus, flooding my mind with these powerful words, words we need to sing out loud every day, believing their truth, receiving their peace.
“I trust in God, my Savior,
The one, who will never fail,
He will never fail.”*
The ear of The Lord heard the prayers of my people. He found me in a hospital waiting room and refused to leave me there alone. He sent me a song to keep me company, a song to remind me of His faithfulness. Isn’t the power of prayer amazing?
Praise God! I am thrilled to report that my mother-in-law is home and healing well. I thank God for His good plan and for the prayers of His good people. Can I get an “Amen” on that?
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“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Psalm 91:1 – NIV
PRAYER
O Dear Lord, thank You for never leaving us, nor forsaking us. You are there in the good times, and in the hard times too. Lord, let us cling to You, trusting in Your faithfulness. Your love for us never fails. You know our rising up and lying down, our going out and our coming in. You know our hurts, our wounds, our every need, and You meet us wherever we are. Place a song on our hearts that no matter where we are or what we face, we can sing Your praise forevermore.
In the Faithful Name of Jesus, we pray,
Amen
Blessings,
Anita
*Lyrics from the song, “Trust In God” by Elevation Worship, Chris Brown, 2023.
-APS 11/13/2023
Faith Beyond Sight 