I have been pondering faith a lot it seems lately and today as I was driving I was thinking again on this topic before the Lord. I was quickened to faith being like learning to stand after open heart surgery. So, I thought I would share this parable with you.
Most of my nursing career I have taken care of open heart surgery patients at all stages of recovery. The most satisfying was the time I spent with them while working in the critical care unit. This was the absolute most unstable time during their recovery. So unstable in fact they were a one on one patient. Meaning if you were recovering an open heart patient that was the only patient you had!
After hours of working to stabilize heart rate and blood pressures along with waking them up to get them off the ventilater we would stand them up for the first time. This usually took place about 6 hours after surgery and only an hour after coming off the vent and them breathing on their own again.
The first time we would stand them up, they would be very uncertain and not want to do it. Fear of so many things hindered there desire to even try. Pain being one of them. And for the men they would be very uncertain about standing with me (I am only 5'3"). But, I am very confident in my abilities and so they never had a chance with that fight (smile). Anyway, upon standing that first time I had only three instructions for them and I assured them that if they did these 3 simple things they would be just fine.
- They had to breath.
- They had to push with their legs.
- They had to look up.
They had to breath: The fear of pain would cause them to want to hold their breath. After all they did just have their chest opened up. However, holding your breath actually causes the pain to hurt worse. Not to mention you need to breath to live, smile!
Application: Sometimes after we have been hurt or slimmed by the enemy it is hard for us to take good deep cleansing breaths. As the enemy is really good at striking at the heart of the matter and getting us right where we are most vulnerable. However, to a child of God the breath of the Almighty is what gives us life. We need to remember that especially when the enemy has attacked us, trying to steal the life from our walk causing our faith to be weakened we need to breath in the deep cleansing breaths of God. Breathing in more of God will wash away all fear and will give us life.
"Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."(Genesis 2:7)
"The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life."(Job 33:4).
They had to push their legs: After surgery it is so much easier on them if they push to stand on their own opposed to us pulling on them. If we did all the work they possibly would come out worse as all they would really get is more pain and possible a cracked chest and incision. So, it was imperative that they understand that they have to do the work of standing themselves. Though we would never leave them, they had to do the work of standing.
Application: I feel the Lord telling us to stand. Stand firm in all that we know. All that He has taught us. Stand, then when we can do nothing else, stand!
"Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm. "(2 Corinthians 1:24)
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."(1 Corinthians 15:58)
"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."(Psalm 40:2)
"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."(Ephesians 6:13)
They had to look up: The heart is a muscle and can get easily irritated. This is what causes the instability immediately after surgery. So most certainly when we first start exerting that heart even with only trying to stand the heart can react. Reactions from the heart muscle can cause heart rate or blood pressure fluctuations which can cause the patient to be dizzy and/or light headed. We would instruct them to look up, not at us or at the ground while they were standing because we tend to follow our eyes. They are more likely to fall down or forward if they were looking down or at us.
Application: To go higher we must look higher.
Application: To go higher we must look higher.
"1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore."(Psalms 121)
he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore."(Psalms 121)
