Whispers and Winks from God

Getting older isn’t for the faint of heart. My recent health scare is proof of that! I won’t go into all the gory details, but I will share how God used a former pastor of mine to speak life into me. God knows just what we need when we need it!

Severe stomach pain sent me to the ER a few months ago. After a CT scan and an overnight stay with antibiotics, I was sent home. A week later, after another CT scan, things had not gotten better but had progressed so much that I was sent straight to the hospital for an emergency surgery. We were in total shock! Calls were made to inform family and friends so that they could pray for me. Thanks to my mom’s diligence in getting the word out to all her prayer warriors, a former pastor and dear friend called me as I was being prepped for surgery. His words of encouragement and prayer meant so much. He knew I was afraid, but something he said to me really stuck! He said, “Melanie, remember, when you are sleeping, He is not!” Oh man, how those words helped me. As they rolled me to the OR, I prayed, “God, I’m so thankful that while I am asleep, you Lord are not!”

The surgery was successful…so they thought. 3 days in the hospital now. The doctor made his rounds. He didn’t like what he saw. Emergency surgery #2! Again, we were in total shock. As I was being rolled back to the OR, and as I lay alone in the dark (only ambient lighting was on due to it being a Saturday), I cried out again in prayer. “God, I’m so thankful that while I am asleep, you Lord are not!”

Waking up from this surgery was a bit different. I woke up in what felt like a dungeon or basement with a nasogastric tube still inserted. I was in the Trauma ICU…by myself. Visitors are allowed only at certain times. It was late. What I would have given to see someone familiar when I woke up, especially my husband. *Side note – I eventually did, but that is his story to share with you. Be on the lookout for that God wink!

Waiting on a bed to open on the desired floor of my surgeon, I was in the Trauma ICU for 8 days! Yep! You read that right! 8 days! Then, finally, I was moved to a regular room. I went days without “real” food. Ice chips and cold towels were my friends. After roughly 2 ½ weeks in the hospital, I was able to go home and can now report that I am doing well.

I am sharing this story because there are times when we are afraid. Even Christians can be afraid. We are human. I was afraid of being put to sleep. But God! He used a special person to remind me that God would not leave me. Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all of my fears.” Don’t let fear overwhelm you. It will rob you of your joy and peace. Cry out to God and rest in the reminder that “When You Are Sleeping, He Is Not!”