Health Care Debate

Last week, the health care debate became personal for me. It seems that I came down with a flu of some kind (five tests for swine flu later, they are still unsure of the diagnosis) and while those virus bugs were ravaging my intestines, my asthma was also ignited. Over a four day period of time, I visited two ER rooms, one Urgent Care facility and one special “ologist.”

Each office cared for me with professionalism and did their best to relieve the symptoms of the moment. I was grateful for the medicine and care. It is a blessing that I live in a country where high quality medical care is so available to me (even if the wait may seem interminable sometimes). And, I sincerely want that same care to be available for others as well.

But here’s the thing…as wonderful as those facilities were and as thoughtful as those providers were (and they were!) their care contradicted each other. One prescribed one kind of medication and the other chose a different approach. One called for one kind of remedy and the other adjusted it. One gave one prescription and the other said it was contraindicated and don’t take it at all!

The health care that my insurance and the local providers gave was excellent, but not perfect. I trust those fine physicians, but not totally. It was just too confusing.

But like most life experiences, there was a lesson to be learned. I was reminded in a very clear way that my confidence for life and its joys must be focused on the Lord. My hope for recovery, my hope for peace, my hope for joy MUST be centered on Him and His will, not the care of even excellent doctors.

Health care, like every other care in our lives needs to be seen through the filter of God’s plan and provision. I need to look to Him to ultimately meet my needs. Of course, God often uses people to address our concerns. He uses medicine and doctors and hospitals and surgeries. But my confidence can’t be in just those things. It must be in the personal care of the God behind those blessings.

So this week my plan for the health care debate begins with the concept of “HOPE.”

“We wait in hope for the Lord, He is our help and our shield.” (Ps. 33:20)

“Find rest, O my soul, in God alone, my hope come from Him.” (Ps. 62:5)

“But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love.” (Ps. 33:18)

Warmest Regards in Christ,

Sherry L. Worel

Stoneybrooke Christian Schools