T+104 Call to prayer

It is with mixed emotions that I report that my friend and dental school classmate, who has been my buddy as we both battle AML, called last evening to say he is in the ICU with low blood pressure. This is not his first bout with low BP, but a far as I know, it is the first time he has wound up in the ICU. 

A few weeks ago, his oncologist told him that the team had run out of treatment options and would only be able to render him palliative care going forward. Since that time he has had ups and downs, but this is the lowest he has been, and he wanted to connect with me last evening  and let me know how much our friendship has meant to him, "in case he doesn't make it." I assured him it has meant as much to me, as we have presented a united front against our mutual nemesis, acute myeloid leukemia, and that Jill and I will be in prayer for him and his wife. 

I am saddened to think that my friend may soon leave me, but I am also thrilled that, if and when he does, he will be in the arms of our mutual savior, Jesus Christ. We share a deep faith, and I believe that, like the Apostle Paul, we can identify with Paul's words in his letter to the church in Philippi: 

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²² If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ²³ I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴ But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. (Philippians 1:21-24)

My friend has expressed to me that his biggest concern is for his wife and her welfare. Given his weakened condition and suffering, I am sure he would gladly "depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." On the other hand, remaining in the flesh to care for and love his wife is very important to him as well. She is a strong woman, but she has never lived alone. They were married right out of college, 50 odd years ago. They were never blessed with children, so his passing would leave her very much alone, even though she has many loving friends. 

I am not nearly wise enough to know what is the right thing in such a situation, but my Lord is. In times like these, I rely on God's promise found in the eighth chapter of Romans: 

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷ And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸ And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (vv. 26-28, emphasis added)

One of the professors in my divinity school wrote in an essay titled "A Hebrew Perspective on Prayer:"

"One additional ingredient must be added to the mix before we can truly understand the purpose and process of prayer. God is good. God is absolutely holy, has no second agendas and will always do what is necessary and essential to bring about the best result. Of course, we might not think that what happens in life is the best result, but we are not God. Since God is good, we must rest our evaluation of circumstances and events on His character, not the appearance of actions...

"Too often our prayers carry the subtle suggestion that we have to convince God to act with holy intent. We go to prayer as if it were a negotiating session, as if God had to be convinced to act righteously on our behalf. That way is Greek...

"The Hebrew knows that God does exactly what is needed to bring about righteousness. Therefore, the Hebrew realizes that the impediment is not with God but with me. My heart must be shaped to receive God’s grace as He desires to provide it." (emphasis added)*

If you are a praying person, I humbly invite you to pray for my friend and his wife. We are praying that God's will will prevail. We are praying for our friend's suffering to be ended in whatever way God determines is best for all concerned. We are praying that God will give his wife peace and comfort in all circumstances. For the rest of our prayers, we rely on God's promise that, when we don't know how to pray, " the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words."

*From: "A Hebrew Perspective on Prayer," Moen, Skip, PhD,  published in the Master's Journey, the e-Zine of Master's International School of Divinity, January, 2009.