Visit to the Doctor

Recently I had the awesome privilege of talking some high school friends to a Young Life camp in Colorado called Crooked Creek. Due to the activities that take place at this camp and the elevation at which these activities take place everyone that goes is required to have a physical before we get there. So I did what any good Young Life leader would do and scheduled an appointment the week before we departed.

Here is a little back ground about the situation. My doctor is one that I have been going to see ever since I was born. He is a family physician, very friendly guy, one who takes his job seriously and is relational. I enjoy this man’s company and so does the rest of my family. My father meets with him socially from time to time.
I on the other hand am a very anxious person when it comes to going to the doctor and things like that. I am able to keep my cool but I do get all worked up inside.
This time was no different. I woke up for my 8:00am appointment. I showered and ate what I could of my breakfast while my mind just started racing with thoughts like, how long am I going to have to wait, am I going to feel any pain(a shot maybe), will I have to do lab work, and oh no I have to cough again. So I proceeded with the morning by making sure I wouldn’t have to go to the bathroom at the clinic by sitting on my own throne at home. Once business was taking care of I had some time so I paced around the house and jumped around all the while my wife stared at me saying, “You’re going to be fine”. It was time to leave. I drove the 14 blocks to the clinic checked in and waited in the lobby. They called my name and took my weight and height as I breathed as deep as I could. Then the nurse put me in a cool room with no windows filled with medical equipment and beautiful paintings, as she left she said, “He will be right in to see you”.

Now this is the part I hope you will get. As I sat in that room I waited knowing full well that this visit was nothing serious and that the doctor would take good care of me if anything was wrong. But still it was quiet, I had all the time in the world to think, and my stomach was churning. These thoughts ran through my mind.
You are going to be ok. This guy is as good as they come. But wait; do I even remember what he looks like? It has been so long since I have seen him. I know his character very well but this face is not so clear in my mind anymore. I know I we will talk and have a good conversation, maybe about what has be going on in my life lately for fun, Or if I had been out to the lake. Ooh, I like the lake. He might ask about Crooked Creek. I always like talking about that. It is so important to me. If am looking forward to seeing him then why am I so nervous?

The door knob slowly began to turn and He entered the room. His face was now so clear. He began to ask me questions. We talked about my uncle and the Lake. Crooked Creek was brought up and the amount of kids we were taking (!! 97, Praise GOD). The noticeable health trouble of my father was asked about and he then proceeded by informing me of some shots that I might consider getting before I leave. There were two of them. One was Hepatitis B and the other was for Meningitis. Meningitis was what I friend of mine got at camp a few years back and ended up in serious condition at the hospital in Denver. I knew he would take care of me. He left me with some recommendations of books to read about the stock market and investing. As I left the office I realized that after I engaged my doctor in talking, and just having that communication or relationship with him, there was a peace that came over me that was so calming and comforting.

Here is the point I am trying to make. How might my visit to the Doctor’s office be comparable to our relationship with God? Do you find any similarities with having fear or anxiety before you go to him to examine your life, to forgive your sins? Do we sometimes forget what his face might look like because we have not spent time with for so long? Or is it just sometimes hard to accept and trust the fact that God is good all the time and that he will take care of our every need? At times Jesus is referred as the master physician. I can make the comparison of me sitting and waiting for the doctor. It is kind of like the lyrics in one of Tom Petty’s songs, “The waiting is the hardest part!” Sometimes I am not sure if I want to know if anything is wrong with me, if I want my sickness or sins to be treated. The part of the doctor visit that is most valuable was when the doctor entered the room and I began to interact and continue a relationship with Him.

I would like to remind and encourage us all, because we do tend to forget (we are human after all), that this God is amazing and that He cares about even the deepest things in our hearts. He is someone we can look forward to spending time with like a best friend.

My prayer for all of us is that our sins would continue to come to the surface of our lives so that they may be forgiven, knowing the entire time that God is good and His love covers them all. And in the midst of our anxiety or fear that we can rest in the fact that when the master physician enters the room there will be peace and comfort knowing that you are in relationship with the God of the universe. He desires us to be in relationship with Him above all else and I know that is what my heart longs for as well.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” JAMES 5:16

-Matt