My wife, Sue, was recovering from a life threatening illness. Although the crisis had passed, the road to recovery would now be measured in small steps each day. There was a medical signboard on the wall across from her hospital bed. Things like names of doctors, nurses, and daily medications were noted there. One new note scrawled in a black marker caught my attention. It read, ‘up with help of one person’. With most of the tubes, I.V.’s, and monitor lines removed, she could now get up with the help of a nurse or aid.
Being a man of personal faith, a smile broke across my face. I understood the meaning intended by the one who wrote the message, but it had a deeper spiritual significance for me. A barrage of prayers by family and friends had been raised to the Lord on Sue’s behalf. While the care of the medical community was important, she was responding to the healing hand of the Lord. She was ‘up with the help of one person’. That one person was Jesus!
We rejoice in the assurance of Peter: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (I Peter 5:6-7, NIV). The Lord certainly was lifting Sue up! He was not only healing of her body, but lifting the anxiety that so often accompanies serious illness and uncertain outcomes.
What a blessing to know that Sue was in the hands of the Lord. What peace it is to rest in God’s sheltering arms. Dottie Rambo’s comforting words express Ms Sue’s testimony:
Prayer of Thanks: Lord, thank You for being the ONE who helps us up.
~ Brother Roy
