The Pain that Saved His Life




“Why” we ask, when a detour hits us and we have nowhere to go, but to stay in neutral. A year and a half ago, we experienced this reality. A surgeon told us my husband’s MRI revealed a narrowing of his lower spine. A simple cleaning out would relieve the pain in his hip area. Later we’d discover the “why” of his pain and how God had gone before us: “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved” (Psalm 16:8, NKJV).
As Dave [not my husband’s real name] couldn’t walk but a block without pain, surgery was scheduled. Then canceled! His blood cancer numbers had elevated off the chart!
While getting those levels down, Dave’s tiredness and weakness increased. We thought it was the chemo meds. But the Oncologist said, “No, your body should have adjusted by now. Something else is going on.” Then Dave began experiencing shortness of breath. And he continued to have pain in the area of his hip: Our detour of blessing in disguise, but we didn’t understand: ‘“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).
After a poor EKG, a chemical stress test revealing global hypokensis (all the walls of the heart were weakened), a heart cath was ordered in three days. We didn’t make it. He’d overdone, and taken to his recliner with the hip pain, and now angina pain. I called the ambulance: “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; He drew me out of the deep water” (Psalm 18:16, NIV). God’s revelation as to the “why” was close.
Admitted to the hospital, the scheduled procedure took place on a Sunday. We hoped for clogged arteries, or perhaps a by-pass: something to fix. But nothing was clogged, nothing to fix. The doctor said, “Your husband has severe heart failure, and it’s working at only 20%. Several years ago, a virus has attacked his heart.” We were stunned: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 5:3). And He did.
We praise God for allowing Dave’s lower back problem. God used it to save his life. Otherwise his athletic training would have told him, “You’re out of shape. Exercise more”, resulting in a fatal heart attack.
If you are experiencing a difficult situation, and can’t see the reasoning as to the “why,” we encourage you, God is at work, and will ultimately reveal His plan. Have we experienced down times? Absolutely. But Psalm 42:5 brought us back to reality, and we pray it will for you: “Why, are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”