A recent survey reported by the Associated Press continues to demonstrate how Americans turn to God when dealing with life-threatening situations instead of science, medicine or doctors.

There is, said the researchers in the survey, a “widespread belief that divine intervention can revive dying patients.”  More than half---57 percent---of those randomly selected said God’s efforts can save a loved one even when a physician said treatment would be useless.  About 75 percent said that patients should have the “right” to demand such treatment.  What’s missing from the questions and collective answers offered is that the power of prayer is so readily available and is very awesome  in such instances. 

I’ve witnessed it as have others.  In fact, I just recently invoked prayer power as did hundreds of others for my wife who dealt with a serious surgery in a Central New York hospital.  I’m convinced that my wife’s healing was vastly improved by the prayers offered. Furthermore, I think prayer influenced the events related to her recovery and God intervened on her behalf. 

Thanks to Philip Yancey’s book Prayer I recognized that my prayers had to be focused.  Certainly I didn’t want her to suffer, nor did I want her to experience the surgery at all but I dealt with the reality that caused the urgent need to pray.  I earnestly prayed for healing, relief from pain and the quick passage of time to give her a speedy and safe recovery. I followed Yancey’s advice to put her in God’s hands.   

Then, because hospital bureaucracies tend to cloud what appear logical solutions and have the power to decide, I prayed that administrators would permit us to give her a rehab site close to home and a period of acquiring strength to help her return to normal.

As it turned out, the hospital, which was located in another county in New York state, had no idea of what was close or far or what was good or bad. It had its own list of approved facilities. The facility I wanted wasn’t on the hospital list.  With the aid of my daughter we convinced the case worker that all of us would benefit from our selection . . . not the hospital’s list or no list.   

The hospital relented and we transported my wife to an excellent rehab center a block from our home. 

She gained the necessary strength in physical therapy and returned home in merely six days instead of the planned 10 days. Yes, we became positive and articulate about our needs but without God I think we might have had a far different outcome.  I believe that.  I’m sure there are doubters. . .  but none will persuade me from what I know and what I feel.  

Twenty percent of the doctors and healthcare providers included in the survey said they felt that God could reverse hopeless outcomes.  Which indicates the medical society isn’t without sensitivity to the issue.

Thinking back on our 19 day ordeal I can’t believe that there are those who undergo such experiences without daily and hourly prayer and meditation. 

My son and daughter made daily 45 minute trips with me  from our community to the city in the worst August weather we’ve seen in some time.  Hail, rain, blowing gusts and more rain and heavy traffic increased our apprehension.   

Added to that was the hospital’s indifference to us.  On surgery day, we arrived at 11 a.m. for a 2 p.m. surgery.  Seven hours later we talked to the doctor and discovered my wife’s surgery was so serious it was placed last on the schedule.  We were never told.  After the doctor told us about the success of the surgery he said we would see her after she spent 45 minutes in recovery.  Three and a half hours later we sought someone to tell us where she was.  We finally saw her at 11:15 p.m. Adding insult to injury and seemingly outside of God’s domain, when we went to get our car, the hospital had closed the adjacent parking garage for the day!  A friendly security guard finally helped us out of the garage. 

Yes, there are things that seem insignificant although they are irritating.  But I’ve learned that God wants to know your problems and he will help if you are honest and earnest in delivering your request.    

Let me know your thoughts at jbehrens@roadrunner.com.