It was a health scare.
Last Friday, I felt a stinging pain in my
body’s lower left quadrant. I was sure it was not muscular or ossein in origin. I went to the restroom thinking it was a case of a bum stomach, but nothing there.
I was driving when the pain hit me again. I felt faint. I struggled to keep myself calm while driving and in moments like this, I can only call on God repeatedly and pray the “Hail Mary” endlessly.
I managed to bring myself to a hospital’s emergency room and I practically begged for immediate attention. The pain was wracking and all I wanted was to bypass the usual admission procedures and to take any pain reliever.
Praise God that the doctor on duty was sensitive and after conducting a quick assessment suggested a drug injection for quick relief. It didn’t take long for me to decide. I said yes, yes, yes!
In the next three hours, the pain would “attack” three more times and they couldn’t administer any medication until I am done with the ultrasound examination. And I could only be scanned if I had a full bladder, meaning practically bursting with the urge to urinate.
I had already drank one liter of water but it seemed that my bladder was not yet full so I had to wait. Meantime, the pain made me want to vomit, cry and writhe in discomfort.
All this time, I was pleading with God, “Sustain me, Lord Jehovah Rapha (The Lord who heals)” and prayed the “Hail Mary” over and over again. I was begging Him to make true His promise that He takes care of widows like me.
After the ultrasound, I had another severe bout of pain which stopped me from finishing my lunch. I was supposed to take a sample of my urine to the lab for testing but decided to eat lunch first.
But another wave of pain came and I forced myself to go to the restroom.
After sealing the sample cup, I realized I was not in pain. I was walking normally as if nothing had happened. For the first time that whole morning, I was practically pain-free. What happened?
The urinalysis results showed an abnormally high count of RBC or red blood cells so the doctor’s prognosis was that whatever was causing me pain could have been flushed out when I urinated but in the process scraped the sensitive urinary tract, causing it to bleed.
My heart was crying out, “Alleluia!” The doctor warned me though that we had to wait for the ultrasound result (which would be out the next day) to pinpoint exactly what was causing the pain, if it had been a kidney stone or something else.
Without batting an eye, I blurted out, “I believe in faith, Doc, that God moved a miracle.”
It was a celebratory statement. Imagine, for half a day, I was afflicted with this terrible pain and after one visit to the toilet to urinate, the pain was gone!
For me, I am healed. But I still have to see the doctor again. I would like to know what went wrong. Even as I believe God touched me that day, I would still like to get the doctor’s diagnosis. In the gospel of St. Luke, God told the lepers whom He had healed to see the priests (whose pronouncements ultimately sealed a person’s fate).
What happened that morning could be an early warning that I know God sends our way so we can be saved. Did I do something wrong that could have jeopardized my spiritual salvation and God,
Who knows all, wants me to avoid the problems that are to come?
We have seen many times how, when a person is on the brink of death or suffering desperately, he repents and turns to God.
Not only in sickness do we remember God. All other situations that make our future seem uncertain, when we can’t see how anything good can happen, these are the times we call on God as our only Hope.
And that’s what God is waiting for: that we acknowledge that He is our Provider, and when we don’t trust in Him, it is the same as saying we know better.
In his sermon, Anxiety Alert – Fear of the Future, James Merritt says, “When you worry, you are acting as if there is either no God, or if there is, He is powerless.”
Both are wrong of course! Looking back at my troubled childhood, my widowhood and now at the prime of my life, I can stand up for God and say our God is real, and He is All-powerful. And I trust Him with every ounce of my being.
This latest health scare will not be the last. But I have less fears about my future. Having been a survivor by God’s grace, I know better to say that whatever life may throw my way, God will have the final word.
So why should I fear? The secret formula to healing is to surrender to God’s will, acknowledge that He is Jehovah Rapha and trust that He always knows what’s best for us. Maybe God has sent you a warning today about something wrong with your life. It could be in the form of a difficult situation you’re in. It could be a physical disability or health condition. If so, be encouraged. These are proof of God’s compassion.
He loves us all the way. And we just have to speak His name.
“Lord, give me the ability to hear not just Your words but also Your heart. .. Help me to honor You with my life. God’s warnings are to protect us, not to punish us.” (Our Daily Bread)