A Withering Weed Blossoms

A Withering Weed Blossoms

Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. Jeremiah 33:3

A well-dressed young woman, full of life and energy, sat on the exam table. When I entered the room, she stuck out her hand and firmly shook mine.

“Remember me? I used to see you years ago, right after my car wreck. I was a handful back then. Do you remember me?”

There are lots of reasons why patients are memorable to their doctors. It might be their personality, the particulars of their disease, or even their faith in the face of adversity. Mindy was one I remembered because she had been such a mess! Even before the auto accident—caused by a drunk driver—her life had been like a train wreck. And she’d lost more than just her leg in the accident; she’d also lost her self-respect.

I was genuinely happy to see her again. “Mindy! Where have you been? It’s been . . . what . . . five years since I last saw you?”

As her doctor, I had worked to help her heal from her physical wounds, but she had much deeper wounds in her soul. You see, Mindy was the drunk driver who had caused the accident. Fortunately, she hadn’t injured anyone else.

Back then, her physical and emotional pain had required a number of specialty consultations with orthopedists, psychiatrists, and pain management physicians. I was her primary care physician for backup and crisis management—which meant I saw her a lot.

“Did you move?” I asked.

“No. I was on the streets, looking for my next fix to escape the pain. But even on the streets, I kept thinking about how you would encourage me to look to God when everything seemed lost. I finally took you up on it and went into rehab. And I got saved. I’ve been clean for a year. Now I’m studying to be a drug and rehab counselor, finishing up this semester.”

“It’s so great to see you doing so well!” I said.

“So many people were praying for me and encouraging me. Those were all seeds that took root, and now the Holy Spirit has helped them sprout and grow.

TODAY’S RX

Pray for and encourage those in need, even in the worst circumstances. You never know when those seeds, planted deep in the human soul, will sprout and grow.

Holy Spirit, work in the lives of my family and friends who are struggling right now. Make your presence known to them and help them to see their need for you. Thank you for faithfully following after them.