When someone you love is in the hospital, it is a very stressful time. The family spends hours sitting around, waiting. Furthermore, with the pandemic, some patients can’t even have visitors, which makes the suffering worse. Truly, the patient spends all their time waiting; for the physician to come in, or for the test results, or to spend time with their loved one. Additionally, they just want to be well again so they can go home and life can return to normal.
Care Around the World
I had the privilege of visiting hospitals in several countries. But, I use the term privileged as a tongue in cheek statement. The hospitals in Kenya and Nepal certainly made me appreciate our medical system more and more. For example, the scary sights I saw included open windows in the operating areas, and doctors hanging up disposable rubber gloves for reuse for the next patient. Additionally, I observed boxes of used casts nearby that the staff would use again on another person. The physicians even left lots of needles lying around unwrapped. Therefore, my prayer every mission trip includes asking God to keep the team members from a sickness or injury severed enough to require a visit to a local hospital. In fact, we purchase traveler’s insurance that allows for medical evacuations for the team if any extreme situation occur. Praise the Lord; we have never used it.
“When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.”
Acts 19:12
Problems
The local people in countries like Kenya, Nepal, and Myanmar do not get many options for their health care. If they are sick, they have to visit one of the local hospitals or clinics. Additionally, in these countries, the patients’ families often are the only source of care. This is because hospitals do not provide food, bedside care, or cleaning services. Also, there are shortages of doctors and nurses, which forces the family to do a lot of the care of the patient themselves. The problems are more pronounced in rural areas. Sut San Niang, an orphan from our orphanage in Myanmar, contracted juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Also, she will suffer pain for most of her life without the benefits of medicines that are available to us here.
The Great Physician
The Bible talks about doctors in several places. In fact, the gospel writer Luke was a physician before he was a disciple. History suggests that Luke traveled with Paul during his missions. But, we also hear about Jesus healing the sick throughout his ministry. For example, I love the verse in Acts 19:12, which tells us how any piece of cloth that touched Jesus’ skin healed the sick just by touching it. Jesus did not even need to be present for His healing power to work. Another example in Luke 8:43-44 tells the story of the women who touched the hem of Jesus’ robe and received instant healing of her bleeding problems.
Good News
These stories offer us good news even today. In fact, the power of our great physician can still heal us. Through prayers, we can ask for the power of Jesus to heal our family, friends, and ourselves. Consequently, His perfect plan for our lives might allow us to suffer and experience disease, illness, and hardship. Therefore, we must trust His perfect plan for us.
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
James 5:13-15
Reminder
The next time you are dealing with an illness, remember Jesus is the great physician. In fact, you can pray for His healing powers to touch the lives of those around you. Also, we are placing Sut in God’s hands and trusting Him for her healing. In conclusion, I found the prayer below on http://www.lords-prayer-words.com:
Prayer for Healing
Lord Jesus, you are the master of life and death. Everything I have is yours, and I love you very deeply. Just one touch from you restores the sick, heals the broken, and transforms the darkness. Please heal those who are ill and suffering today. Thank you for the blessing of your touch. Amen
Blessings,
Yvonne M. Morgan, author, blogger, and speaker.
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
100% of the proceeds from sales of my book, Turning Mountains Into Molehills, help the orphans at Orphan Relief Effort, Inc.
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I’ve been dealing with another bad sinus infection. Thank you for the reminder that He is the great physician. I am praying and asking for His healing. Have a blessed week!
Praying for your healing too. May the great physician heal you quickly. Thanks Melissa and God bless.
I’m grateful for the privilege, as a child of God, to pray to Abba for healing. But as you noted, it’s also a privilege to rest in His sovereign plan for me regardless.
Amen Ava. We praise in all circumstances. Thanks so much for commenting. God bless
You are so right — Jesus, our great physician, can and indeed will heal us. He provides living water!
Amen Jessica! He is the source of living water. Thanks and God bless
I’m grateful to live in the United States and receive the health care we do. Thank you for the example prayer.
Thank you June. May the Lord bless you and keep you always
When my husband was in the hospital a few years ago, he was on his deathbed, at least that was what the doctors were preparing me for. But in all that time, a month, I prayed to God,for I knew that He is the Great Physician. He can heal and He can take a loved one home. Either way, His wisdom is best. This is a very timely and appropriate post for times that we are living. Thank you for sharing, Yvonne!
Thanks Marcie. What a blessing to know the Lord healed your husband. So many people have incredible stories. May the Lord continue to bless you both.
Oh Yvonne, I’m lifting little Sut in prayer right now. I’m praying for a miraculous healing touch from Jesus, the great Physician and a complete lifting of her pain. Move in power, Holy Spirit, we pray! Joining you in prayer for all who are sick. Thank you, Yvonne, for reminding us of our blessings and how we can be a blessing to others.
Thanks Melissa. She will really appreciate the prayers. We trust God to take care of her daily. God bless.
Phenomenal post, Yvonne! Did you know that Rheumatoid Arthritis is treated here in the US with a common anti-malarial probably available where Sut San Nian lives in Myanmar. It was discovered that this anti-malarial drug is also a disease modifying anti-rheumatic drug, a DMARD. I’ve been taking it for five years, because I also have RA. The drug is the widely discussed hydroxycloroquine. Can you learn if it is available there? And at what cost?
Thanks Melinda. I will check it out. We have used it several times on mission trips for its anti-malaria properties but did not know about the RA connection. I appreciate you sharing and hope your RA is under control. My mom developed it in her late 20s. God bless
Please keep me posted.
Very grateful that you’ve been healthy on your mission trips!
Thanks Lisa and God bless
Yvonne, yikes! That’s scary what you saw in hospitals overseas. When I was on mission to Zimbabwe and Kenya, one of our team members became really sick and ended up having his appendix taken out. There were several issues with medical staff and his safety that we kept praying through. We were thankful the Great Physician kept him safe and healed him.
Wow, one of my nightmares while on mission. Glad it all worked out fine because the great Physician was watching over him. Thanks Karen and God bless.
I’ve seen medical care in Asia. Very different from what we have here. Very much less. I wasn’t there doing medical work. Thank you for working in these environments. Wonderful post!
Thanks Nancy. It really makes me appreciate what we have here. God bless.