Set Apart for a Purpose in Covid ICU
“But I have raised you up for this very purpose,
that I might show you my power and
that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth”
"Dan, I am having trouble breathing. I am very weak."
"Let's check your oxygen level."
68
"Go to the emergency room immediately," my doctor spoke with authority.
As white coats hurried me away to hospital isolation in the Covid-19 wing, my Dan and I kissed farewell knowing our good-bye could be forever. Yikes! And we kept our masks on. How dull are we?
I'm 72 with leukemia and a compromised immune system. I knew my odds of surviving Covid-19 were not in my favor. But God, not medical science, is the Author of my days — and yours too. God says, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:16b NIV). The word "ordained" means "set apart for a purpose." Every day of our lives is "set apart for a purpose." How cool is that!
What "purpose" could God have for me in isolation? I asked myself, "Why am I here?" Well, I'm here for the same reason you are there. To glorify God. To bring light and hope to a dark and hopeless world.
When cancer surprised me five years ago, I determined to see my cancer as an opportunity and not an obstacle in my life. An opportunity to love deeper, live fuller, laugh louder, sing sweeter, and shine brighter. Or, I could use cancer and covid as an obstacle and choose to complain and be miserable. What good would that do me or anyone else? No good. Covid was my opportunity to bless people, and to show the new people in my covid world the love of Jesus. God allowed me this disease and He has a purpose for me and that purpose is to show His power and proclaim His Name.
Resting in my covid bed, I asked God how this disease and this hospital imprisonment could be used for His glory? I thought of the Apostle Paul in prison as told in Acts 16. What did he do? He sang! And people listened! "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them" (Acts 16:25 NIV). So, without even realizing it, I began to sing. As my ICU nurse attested, "Last night you couldn't put two words together. I walk in this morning and you are singing." And she listened!!!
Others listened as well. God placed in my heart the desire and the idea to pray out loud for every person who entered my room. No visitors were allowed, but my room overflowed with nurses, doctors, phlebotomists, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, nurses aides, and cleaning staff. As I listened to them and watched them serve, my mind opened to the suffering and sacrifices of these precious people. I had no idea of their physical exhaustion putting on and taking off protective clothing, and the weight of wearing two heavy masks for 12 hour shifts. As well, I felt their pain and the emotional toll of watching people suffer, missing their own families, and fearing they will take covid home to their children. I heard their hearts cry and saw their eyes tear as they sacrificed, served, and danced daily with death. Health care workers risk their lives so we can live. While patients complain about their disease, these dear medical personnel treat everyone with care, compassion, sensitivity, and love. Their hearts touched my heart and taught me what it means to be a servant.
Peace and joy were my companions as I prayed out loud for each health care worker. Sharing prayers of protection and thanksgiving with every person, I watched as peace and joy became their companions as well. Not one person refused my prayers. A few in a hurry, left my room quickly before I could pray. As they rushed to the door, I prayed for them. Interesting, every one stopped in their tracks and listened. They all said, "Thank you." Many in tears. Some came back to me, held me, touched me (not recommended in Covidland) and prayed for me. What a blessing.
Jesus was a servant. He served us even to his death on the cross so that we could live eternally in Heaven. Each caregiver served me, and each was willing to give their life so this old lady could spend a few more years with her grandbabies. They weren't Jesus, but as they washed my feet and warmed my cold, oxygen-deprived hands with their warm, gloved ones, I sensed Jesus in each one. I thanked God and I thanked them for the blessing they were to me.
We have choices to make. We can grumble and spill misery or be thankful and spread joy. Does complaining ever accomplish anything? No. On the other hand, a thankful heart brings peace.
I'm home now praying and hoping God and time will heal my damaged lungs. Dan and I have made up for over three weeks of lost kisses. Was my purpose realized in the hospital? God blessed me when the nurse who washed my feet sent me a thank you for the blessing I was to her during my stay. She knocked my socks off, literally!
Yes. No matter where God places us, He has a purpose for us. Let's look at the pandemic as an opportunity and not an obstacle to shine the Light of Jesus in these dark days.
“Heavenly Father, I pray in the Name of Jesus, that You will strengthen me and give me hope, joy, and peace in this pandemic. Hear my cries, as I trust You, Jesus, that You have raised me up for this purpose that I might show my family, my neighbors, my town, my world Your Power and that Your Name might be proclaimed in all the earth. Give me a sensitive and loving heart that I would not think of myself, but think of others. So many are suffering. Open my eyes to see their pain and not my own. Show me what I can do to help them in these days. I pray, Jesus, that You will be Lord of my tongue and thought life. I pray my eyes will be fixed on You and Your Holy Spirit would fill me. Make me a servant, I pray in the Name of Jesus. Amen.”
Meet Elaine!
Elaine Miller is an international author and speaker whose joy is contagious. A member of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, she has been encouraging audiences for over thirty-five years. Elaine is the author of four books including We All Married Idiots: Three Things You Will Never Change About Your Marriage and Ten Things You Can and Praise the Lord and Pass the Chemo: A Hopeful Response to a Hard Reality. She and her husband Dan reside in Campbell, NY, and are blessed with three married children and thirteen precious grandchildren.
