For the last week of my life, I lived in hospital rather than at my ministry house. One of my teammates, Serena, my team leader, Lindsey, and myself had medical challenges. We left our team, we left our ministry, we left all of our clothes and toiletries, and we drove two hours to Chiang Mai. While at the hospital, we were informed that Serena would need to stay overnight in the hospital. The following day, we were told we would need to stay for a week. Reality sunk in. The three of us would be stranded in a hospital for at least a week.
All of us stayed in the small hospital room. Serena had been prescribed hourly eye drops. Needless to say, none of us slept the first night. Throughout the week, the three of us became more exhausted, frustrated, and distressed. Every hour seemed longer than the previous. Boredom set in quick. Life became monotonous as we stared at the same four hospital walls.
We were faced with a decision. Either we could continue to stress about our situation and choose to be disconnected from one another, or we could rely on each other for wisdom and listen with eager hearts to what God wanted to teach us. It would’ve been easy to binge watch Netflix, but it would’ve been rewarding to lean into God. It’s a daily decision to choose God, and in the hospital the best choice couldn’t have been clearer.
We each made a choice of how we were going to spend our week in the hospital. I think I chose well. When I chose to press into what God had for me, I realized I had the gift to sit and simply read my Bible. I could journal for endless pages. I could sit in uninterrupted prayer. I could call my family and catch up with them. And that’s exactly what I did. My attitude changed from worrisome and fearful to joyful and confident.
How wise and gracious is God? He gave me the beautiful gift of time to process. When I came back from the hospital, He gave me a community that loved me well. He gave me abundant rest and peace while in the hospital. Thank you Abba for loving me deeply and calling me worthy of Your love.
