Wobbly Faith

by Ami Hendrickson

He, in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and petitions with strong crying and tears to him who was able to save him from death, and having been heard for his godly fear.

Hebrews 5:7

In 2005, my husband, Robert, and I were headed to our San Francisco hotel to try to get some sleep before Robert underwent brain surgery early the next morning.

Robert’s seizures had begun with a vengeance a few months before when he started a new job 2500 miles away from our home in Michigan. The doctors diagnosed a recurrence of an earlier brain tumor and recommended immediate surgery, but the insurance that came with his job was good only in California.

During this time, Robert’s faith remained strong; he knew God was in charge.

I admit, my faith wobbled a bit when we learned the hospital somehow lost his brain scans – for over a month! Eventually, they were located, after being erroneously delivered to a different department.

On the way to our hotel, the car phone rang. “I took another look at your scans,” the neurosurgeon said. “I’m canceling the surgery; I don’t believe it is the answer.”

It turned out, symptoms that had been attributed to a brain tumor were really a severe reaction to medication. Had the scans not gone missing, Robert would not have had time to stabilize. His seizures were so severe, the doctors would have done the surgery without taking the time to question the diagnosis.

God is always faithful. And sometimes what causes our faith to wobble turns out to be the very thing that answers our heartfelt prayers.

Pray

Holy Father,
Help me to cling to You even when my faith begins to falter.
For only You can save me.
In Christ’s Holy Name, Amen