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A Testimony of the Critical Importance of Hope
In last month’s A Ray of Hope’s Newsletter I wrote about how to obtain hope. This month I will share a testimony of the critical importance of hope. Proverbs 13:12 says; “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” Over the years I have done much counselling and this verse has come to mind often when I meet with folks who lack hope. Hope or the lack of hope are literally the difference between a tree of life or a sick heart. I reference this verse regularly, but never so much as I did on Sunday, July 1, 2018.
Upon returning home from church at noon, my wife Holly met a Sheriffs Deputy at our home. Apparently our son John was in the Critical Care Unit in Missoula, Montana and the doctors were looking for his parents, but didn’t know how to contact us. Holly was given the doctor’s number, and we were to contact him. I arrived home shortly after and immediately called him.
Our son was found by a roommate on the front lawn at 6:30 a.m. Vomiting and having seizures, he was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. The doctor did not know what John’s medical complication was, but suggested we get to Missoula as soon as possible (2 hour drive), as he may not be alive upon our arrival.
We packed some clothes and were on the road in short order. I asked Holly to drive so I could make some calls for prayer help. One was to our late founder and Director, Peggy Christensen, who was a prayer warrior. After making the calls, I closed my eyes, raised my arms and cried out to the Lord. I asked Him to speak to me as both Holly and I sensed that this was not John’s time to go. In short order, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “John lacks hope”. Three critical words! I thought for a moment, and Proverbs 13:12 came to mind. “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”
I turned to Holly and told her that John lacks hope, and she asked me what I was going to do. I said that I was going to call and talk with John. I called the Critical Care Unit doctor and told him what the Lord told me and that I’d like to talk with John. It was 1:30 p.m., eight hours after John had arrived. The doctor said John would not be able to hear me as he remained unconscious, as he had been since arriving. I asked him if he would put the phone up to John’s ear and he said he would. To provide context, they had just done a CT Scan- John was fading fast, his blood pressure was 50 and dropping, and the entire Critical Care Unit staff was in his room trying to save his life.
The doctor put the phone to John’s ear and I spoke with him. The doctor told me later that when I spoke with John, he turned his head toward the phone, the first purposeful movement they’d seen him make. I told John that the doctors said he was dying and that he had to fight for his life. I told him what the Lord had told me and that we were on our way to him and would see him shortly. Both Holly and I spoke with him and spoke the life of God’s Word to him. As you can imagine, it was a powerful and emotional few minutes on the phone. The doctor told us that with that phone call, John began to rebound and go the other way. John was blessed with the tree of life: Hope!
Upon our arrival, John was stabilized but still unconscious. The doctors were not sure of John’s condition, but they thought maybe he had meningitis. We would dress up in full hospital garb and masks prior to entering his room. On day two John was conscious but weak. We stayed the week and visited John as he had strength. The hospital staff had all seen or heard of John’s testimony and were amazed and blessed to see the Lord’s hand in power. Even the gal at the entry desk heard and inquired every day as we arrived. We shared his testimony with the hospital staff, John’s friends and our hotel staff and God was glorified and we were thankful. Six years later I still get emotional and have tears of joy as I share this testimony.
As it turns out, John has Addison’s Disease. His body does not create cortisol to fight off infections. He takes daily medication to supplement this and is living a normal life. This family has learned the critical importance and value of having hope! John’s heart was failing for lack of hope, but when his desire came, it was a tree of life. We didn’t know this, but the Lord spoke to us and the Lord saved his life. Do we serve a gracious God? Yes, we do!
When guests come to A Ray of Hope, a priority of mine is to check their hope. If it is lacking or deferred, I seek to fill them with Hope. We cannot recover or be healed without Hope (Proverbs 18:14). Hope is found in our Creator, our God, and hope is communicated through His Word and love. We must see our God as He is and as we more clearly see our God, our Hope will grow and lift us above the surrounding hopelessness.
Vision helps us to see our God, Discipline helps us to know our God, and Hope helps us to glorify our God. We must have and live Hope to share Hope, and what a blessed fountain of Hope we have in Christ Jesus. A Hope that truly is the tree of life. Amen? Amen!
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