Listen to my Prayer

 

 

Psalm 55:1-8

 

June 3, 2022

 

Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me.  My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.  My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen on me.  Fear and trembling have beset me; horror has overwhelmed me. I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.  I would flee far away and stay in the desert;  I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”

 

We always observe the storms that come to our friends and neighbors and wonder, did they not get some kind of warning?  You also might see in them the hopelessness of knowing what to do.  I have experienced many storms, one blew our home away and most of our stuff, but as I set at the end of that very long drive, I looked in the seat beside me, and my wife and baby girl was not harmed, and we saw a big God do a miracle and we experience the blessing that was beyond our income, and it was not the government but God, who was our source.

 

But at 79, and with great health, had not experienced much in the way of doctors, or hospitals, and my sodium count dropped below 100, six days in ICU and four days in the hospital, and then home with salt tablets believing this storm was over.  But I had no clue of the storm that was coming 15 days later, I could not breathe, and went back to the hospital, and ICU for a much longer visit.  My prayer often was, Lord, I don’t know what to do, please tell me what I’m to do.  I began to see people as of great value, not just the amazing nurses that were trying to save my life, but the doctors that I learned later were working hard to keep me alive.  Then the nurses in rehab who were very special to me, the people who cleaned the room, the ones who gave me physical training, and the friends who drove a long way to encourage me.  My family, and so many who were praying for me.

 

I have been home since April 18, one month and almost three weeks ago, and it seems as if the battle to regain my health is not happening.  I've made many successes, and I am so thankful for them, like no oxygen, no walker, and being able to go back to the gym for light workouts.  But it seems that the storms are never going to end!   I have a new Cardiologist, who ran all kinds of tests but sent in his nurse practitioner to go over them and I did not hear back from her about the detailed logs I had kept on my high blood pressure.  I came away with a feeling of this never going to end.

 

When David makes this statement, I do identify with the desire.  “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.  I would flee far away and stay in the desert; I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm.”

 

I’m sure more have experienced this than David and I.  Can I share that God does care, He loves you, and though it seems like it will never end, He is working for our good, so be still, learn to pray, and expect a miracle.  You are greatly loved by God.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice

 

P.S. Our daughter Natalie was amazing over these two and ½ months.  She took care of all the bills and her mother and was by my bedside making sure they did what was best for her dad.