Church Health Center in Memphis created this Model for Healthy Living
I remember the first time I cared for a client and had completely exhausted my clinical skill. I was 5 years into practice. It was a new mother who had extreme pelvic pain. She had seen multiple medical doctors, even an orthopedic surgeon, and none of them could offer this nursing mom anything other than pain medication. I had eagerly accepted her as a client, knowing how successful chiropractic had been for other postpartum mothers in her situation. However, after a few weeks, nothing was changing. I dug into all my textbooks, reached out to mentors, and searched through my years of notes taken through classes, all to no avail. What was I going to do for this woman?
I did what I should have done at her first visit. I asked her if I could pray with her. And then I did just that.
When talking about the thorn in his side, the apostle Paul tells us God’s response to his less than perfect situation. “But he answered me, ‘My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.’ So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, The Passion Translation)
As a follower of Jesus and a physician, I have come to find that I have a tight wire to walk while serving my clients. I have years of clinical and formal education under my belt. I can easily walk into a visit with a new patient, read through their paperwork, ask a few questions, and perform an examination. Within minutes I have a working diagnosis and immediately draw upon my training and experience to devise an appropriate treatment plan. However, as a woman who wants to leave a legacy of fiercely loving Jesus, I am always nudged by the Holy Spirit to ask for supernatural guidance. I discovered through the care given to my client described above, that I don’t know everything. I do not know the entire story. That is why we look to Jesus in our office.
When Jesus spoke to people, touched people, and healed people, he wasn’t just taking care of their symptoms of physical pain. He met people where they were. He wanted them, and wants you, to be fully well – physically, emotionally, relationally, financially, socially, in your family, in the work place, at home, at school. But his ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts.
This week, I challenge you to take this Model of Healthy Living (created by the incredible ministry of Memphis Health Center and Church Health reader) and take it with you into prayer this week. Ask God to show you which area of your life the Spirit wants to start healing. It may not align with your personal health goals, but I promise the healing that will take place will be full, for your good, and his glory!