No Obstacles To Healing

No Obstacles To Healing

Jesus went over to their synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” Matthew 12:9-10

A patient came to a Saturday night clinic with symptoms that suggested the possibility of a brain tumor. I wanted an MRI to confirm the diagnosis, but first I thought about the questions the insurance company would ask:

“Is there a less expensive test you can use?”

“Have you talked to the insurance medical director to get permission?”

In this case, it didn’t matter, because not only was the patient’s insurance company closed for the weekend, but we also didn’t have access to any past MRIs or a neurologist to interpret the results. So it’s likely that permission would have been denied anyway. Instead, we followed the established protocols and didn’t get the MRI until Monday—at which time the diagnosis was confirmed, and the patient began treatment.

Medicine has morphed into something very different from what it was in the days when a doctor and patient worked together to solve a mystery. A third-party payer (the insurance company) has entered the equation, and in many ways it feels like an intrusion into the care and intimacy of the doctor-patient relationship. I understand why it’s part of the equation, but the system can be frustrating to sick patients who just want to get well.

Sometimes I envy Jesus’ ability to heal all who came to him. My instinct is to help everyone who asks, but often there are artificial barriers to providing treatment. When Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath, he didn’t have to get permission from a third-party corporation. And though the Pharisees questioned him, they couldn’t stop him from healing. Nor could they stop the flood of people who sought healing from him. Many who sought his healing touch were Gentiles—they didn’t even believe in God, yet Jesus healed all who came.

There are no roadblocks to healing when it comes to Jesus. We know that we can confidently call on Jesus to meet our needs—even on the Sabbath. He’s never closed for business. His healing isn’t limited to a specific group of people. He doesn’t need permission. And his resources are unlimited.

TODAY’S RX

Jesus’ healing hands are outstretched to all who need his touch.

Help me to have patience, Lord, as I navigate the road to healing. The hurdles I face can be frustrating and exhausting, and I need your strength to persevere. Thank you for going before me and showing me the way.