It’s Faith-refresher Wednesday

 

Oh my what a day.

For those of you who read and follow Amanda through my blog, you already know the challenges we have faced lately with her.  I will not go into detail (‘cuz you can always back up and read earlier posts) but shall try to give you a quick snapshot of last night.

We have temporarily lost staff workers for Amanda’s care so I have been helping her to bed at night at her apartment.  Amanda must wear her AVAP mask at night for health reasons.  (Again – read older posts if you need more information.)  For three and a half hours last night Amanda fought me over her mask.  I would put her to bed, she’d call for me, she’d adjust her mask, she would lie back down, she would get out of bed, she would argue with me that it wasn’t fitting right, she would try to adjust – adjust – and adjust it …. Again …. And again …. And then her frustration made her sick to her stomach and …. You guessed it … she puked … and then she took it off … I would put it on … I lost it and got angry with her  … she got angry and slammed her bedroom door on me … and so it went on from 10:30pm until 2 in the morning when she finally quieted down and went to sleep.

I was livid.  I was exhausted.  I was angry at Amanda.  I was freaking out about how I was going to get through a day at work with only a couple hours of sleep – work started at 6:30am for me today.

I struggled through a day of work under extreme fatigue that gave me one heck of a headache and nauseous as well.

Then I overheard something quirky that was said at work.  The nurse manager was talking to someone when she stopped and stated, “Oh you better get that patient.  I hear the light.”

Hear the light?

Don’t we usually see the light?

I commented to her how funny that sounded … but she indeed made sense.  You see, when a patient signs in at the front desk, the receptionist presses a button that lights a light back where we are in the operating room area to alert us that we have a patient.  When the light is activated, it also emits a “beep”.  Yes – she ‘heard’ the light go on!

It made me think 🙂

When life gives us struggles and we send desperate pleas to God for help, we tend to look for answers.  We want something we can SEE.

We all know that answers to prayer may come now … or later … but always in God’s time and according to His will.

Many times when we are made to wait, I believe He is trying to teach us to be more trusting – but wants to encourage us to stay faithful.  He may send us a sign of His answer or His presence … in other ways.

I tried not to let my fatigue and headache affect my performance at work today.  I mean – I can be quite the actress!  But my stress won and must have been written all over my face.  As I was ending the long day and the anesthesiologist was getting ready to leave, she came up to me and said, “I don’t know what you are going through, but I will keep you in my prayers.”

Oh my – she made me cry.

How beautiful and how wonderful – that even in a secular work place I would have this splash of encouragement from a doctor who I only know casually and see only every other week or so.  It was comforting to know that God’s people are there and ready to hold another person up in prayer.  I’m not alone.  And did I mention all the hugs I got from the great girlies I work with??

I know things will work out with Amanda.  God is faithful.

But if you are waiting for an answer to prayer … waiting to see that sign you are desiring … hoping to see a light shine out of your dark place … you need to listen for God or even try to feel  His presence.  He may reveal Himself to you in more ways than one:  A whisper, a sigh, a setting sun, a friend’s hug, or a friendly smile.

Thank you Dr. Jones for letting me hear the light today.

Just Laurel