I was in an online prayer meeting with a group of Christian psychiatrists recently. They shared about difficult cases they were facing. Many shared about how they had done everything possible medically yet there was no breakthrough. Sometimes, attempts to treat someone only made them worse. The doctors shared their frustrations and their feelings of helplessness. In fact, this prayer meeting was meant for them to share their toughest cases, and to lift them to the Lord in prayer.
I was there in my capacity as chaplain. I was deeply moved by what I heard. Clearly these were gifted professionals who very much brought their faith into their work. One way they did it was to care for their patients with love. And it was this love that brought them to frustration and sadness when they could not see any breakthroughs. However, instead of just throwing in the towel, or numbing their feelings so that they would not care, they brought their patients to the Lord.
As I prayed for them, a few thoughts came to mind. First, we are called to offer up what we have, our two fishes and five loaves. We let Jesus do the rest. God holds us accountable for what we can do, not what we cannot. Next, we need to have a robust understanding of the sovereignty of God. Therefore we need to both care for and surrender our patients to the sovereign, loving hands of God. By doing this, we avoid the two extremes of either not caring or caring in a way that lays the total burden of a patient’s healing on our shoulders alone. Trusting in the sovereignty of God frees me to do my best without being crushed by the burden of ultimate outcomes.
Of course all this sounds easier than it actually is. To care is to open ourselves to being hurt, especially when patients are beyond what medical science can do. As we look to Good Friday, we know we follow a God who cared all the way and paid a price for it. And this God is the one who holds all of us, doctors, patients, etc., in His hands.
I also encouraged the doctors to think of the many they were able to help. These patients count too. I also believe that whether medical science could help their patients or not, their very presence in their patients’ lives stood as beacons of hope in their darkness. At least there was one person who cared. Beyond the hoped-for healing, a healing presence has a power all its own. I prayed that my friends would be encouraged and find the strength to press on. I know they encouraged me.
