I want to tell you what God did for me today. But hang with me, it's a long story. Oh wait, ALL my stories are long! :)
Today I went to the doctor for a mysterious pain in my side that creeps up off and on. It mimics gall bladder pain, but mine was taken out 10 years ago. After 10 months of not knowing when it will hit, I finally decided I should get it checked. After talking to me, my doctor sent me to radiology for an ultrasound (NO, I am NOT pregnant!) to check for kidney stones. She told me I would hear something in a few days if they found something and if they didn't, I would get a letter in the mail after 7 days. Radiology had an open appointment at 2:00 this afternoon (a miracle in and of itself). But by the way, you may not eat or drink anything until then.
My ultrasound tech was awesome! You know, they can never tell you anything, but by the questions he was asking, I could tell he was seeing something. Long story shorter, he had me stick around while he walked the results to the radiologist, then came back to say they were walking the results to the doctor to have her order a CAT scan immediately.
Remember how I hadn't had anything to eat or drink since breakfast? Remember how it's now after 2? Add to my already-low blood sugar an adrenaline rush based on the fact that I am now in immediate need of a CAT scan and I don't know why and watch me start shaking--visibly and literally! I was very close to asking the tech if I needed to call my husband in order to hear the news.
So, I'm sitting in a chair uncontrollably shaking and unsuccessfully trying to read a novel on my Kindle when I distinctly feel the prompting of the Lord to read His Word. I switch over to my Bible (enter ad for Kindle here) and look up Philippians 4. Here is what I read in verses 5-7 "The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Did you catch that? The Lord is near. I sat and read that line over and over. Then I started thanking Him for the people he had placed in the clinic for me today. Then I read the part about His peace over and over. And you know what? I stopped shaking. Completely. I was at peace. The Lord was near.
That's really the most important part of the story, but if you're like me, you'll want to know how it turned out. I got the CAT scan. Then I stopped at the desk for my doctor and asked whether she wanted to see me again before I went home. (When you've suddenly had an extra test and people are walking things down to her, you get the idea that probably you need to be filled in!) In fact, she did. Did you catch that?! This doctor saw me without an appointment..... unheard of in military clinics.
She gave me the run-down on kidney stones and prescribed me a pain med. But as I was walking out, another tech came in to tell my doctor that the radiologist called and wanted her to call back. I sat back down. It turns out I don't have kidney stones at all. I have a narrow spot in some tube that is slowing things down and causing the pain. I'm off to the urologist.
On the way to the original appointment this morning, I prayed that God would give the doctor wisdom. On the way to the ultrasound, I prayed it would be conclusive. I prayed God would go with me and that He would bless those taking care of me and that I would be a blessing to them. He answered above and beyond what I could have imagined!
Thank You, Jesus, for being near me today!
