The Best Medicine

The Best Medicine

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10

“Is this right?” I asked the officer as I pointed to the crime report.

“Yeah, the only thing they took was her medicine.”

“They took my medicine? Don’t they know I need it?” Gertie was clearly upset, and she had a right to be. She was eighty years old and had come to the ER after being the victim of a break-in.

“Doctor, did they take everything? They must know I can’t live without my medicine.”

Gertie was a brittle diabetic with severe hypertension. She had survived two strokes, but they had left her in severe and chronic pain. We had tried everything to control it, but in the end, we had no choice but to prescribe narcotics.

Though unhurt during the break-in, she was obviously upset by the situation. I pulled up a chair to talk to her. “Gertie, this sort of thing is happening everywhere. There’s a group of people who will do anything they can to get their hands on these medications. But you mustn’t worry. God is ultimately in control, and he will protect you. Now, we’ve already called the pharmacy, and they have all of your medications ready to be picked up. I’ve also asked the officers to step up the patrols in your neighborhood and keep an extra eye on you.”

“Thank you for getting my medicine, Dr. Anderson. I couldn’t live without it, you know.”

Talking with Gertie that night reminded me of today’s verse. Without God, our lives would be a mess. But with him, we can have a rich and satisfying life. I can’t imagine anything worse than a thief who would try to take that security away, yet we know there is an evil one who wants to do exactly that. Just as Gertie was focused on her medication and not on the thieves who tried to take it, we need to keep our focus on God, with the confidence that he can protect us from anyone or anything who tries to harm us.

TODAY’S RX

Turn to the Lord daily, and put your trust in him. Truly, we cannot go a day without him.

It’s only by your grace and power, Father, that I have life. Thank you for each new day. Help me to focus on you today, lifting my prayers to you and reading your Word for the wisdom I need.