I received my Family Christian Stores sales event flier this week in the mail. I was enjoying skimming the titles and reading the little blurbs about the books that caught my eye when I stumbled upon the title “The Christian Atheist” by Craig Groeschel. Maybe you’ve already read this book. If you have I’d love to hear what you think about it. I confess that I haven’t, but the description of the book squeezed my heart. Family Christian Stores wrote, “This book will challenge those who believe in God, but live almost as if He doesn’t exist.”
As I read those words, my mind cried out, “That’s one reason I started my website!” I’ve witnessed too many Christian parents of children with serious (and not so serious) health issues believe in God, and hope He intervenes, but put their faith in doctors. In our fear, we blindly follow a man and leave God behind. We pray for our child’s health, but our hope is in medicine. This almost nonchalant turn from following God to following doctors also comes from the amazing technology now available. Technology seems to make God unnecessary, even to Christians. We seem to say, “Of course, I’ll just do what the doctor tells me, why wouldn’t I?” The idea of pausing to ask what God thinks of the doctor’s plan seems ridiculous.
I really hope I don’t step on your toes. I wrestle with what I’m about to say because I’m afraid it will offend you. Please know that I’ve been that person who clung to a doctor, and I thank God for drawing me back even though the process was painful. Ready? Here it goes – it breaks my heart to see Christian parents put their hope in doctors and, I believe, it breaks His too. He wants to be Lord of our lives and that includes our children’s health. He wants us to lay it all at His feet because only He is God. There’s no doctor as wise as Him. There’s no doctor who can heal like He can. There’s no technology as powerful as Him. Most of all, there is no doctor who loves you and your child like He does.
I’ve heard Christian parents say that doctors get their skill and wisdom from God; therefore, they’re a gift from God to help us. We should trust them instead of treating them like the enemy. Most of that’s true. The problem comes when we follow a doctor and their God given gifts blindly. We stop being dependent on God and depend on man instead. Sadly, many doctors do not believe in God. Their secular views very much influence their God given skills and wisdom. While the doctor is not our enemy, their belief system may be. We also have to remember that even Christian doctors are human. They will make mistakes and lack knowledge in some things. It’s unfair for us to look at a Christian doctor and expect them to be perfect and godly. Can you imagine the pressure?
Our trust needs to be firmly in the Lord only. We prayerfully seek His wisdom and guidance then obediently follow His path. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones,” (Proverbs 3:5-8, New King James Version).
How do we “acknowledge Him” and understand His leading? We live a life abiding in Him. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love,” (John 15:9, New King James Version). I found these definitions of abiding at Blueletter.org: to remain; not to depart; to be held, kept, continually; to last, endure. I encourage you to replace the word abide in verse 9 with these definitions, one at a time. It paints a picture of the depth of what the word abide means.
How do you abide? John tells us in the next verse, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love,” (John 15:10, New King James Version). If we read His Word and pray, we will know His commands – a great place to start is John 15!
Putting our trust in doctors instead of God can happen very slowly, almost unnoticeably. I’ve created a simple check list for you to use every day to keep you leaning on His understanding, not a man’s. Just ask yourself these 3 questions:
1. Am I turning to God first?
2. Is my trust in Him above man and technology?
3. If not, why?
If you answered yes to 1 and 2, super! Keep doing what you’re doing – abiding in His love. If you answered no, dear one, you need to repent. Not trusting in God, no matter what the reason, is a sin. Give Him the reasons why you answered no and ask for His help to trust and depend on Him. Spend time alone with God.
What if this check list just isn’t enough? What do you do if you are really struggling to stay focused on Him? What if you find it so much easier to trust an in the flesh doctor? Take “The Faith Challenge”. In 25 days you will find the obstacles between you and God removed along with your eyes and heart completely centered and trusting in God. There is hope! You just need to let God do some more extensive work in your heart.
Lean on the One who loves you. Let the Creator of your child guide your path.
In His Love,
Kimberly
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