The Power of Prayer

I drug myself out of bed on a Tuesday.  I've never been a morning person, and this day was no exception.  I had a work meeting an hour and half away, so today's alarm was set for 5:30 a.m.  I asked God to please stop time for one more hour for me, and then opened one eye to check the time again.  It was now 5:35 a.m.  I flung one leg over the side of the bed, then the other.  No time stopping miracles were on the agenda today.  

As I got ready for the day, my back started to ache.  I thought about how I should be exercising more so I don't wake up all achy.  Welcome to your forties, I thought to myself.  I took a seat on the little stool I keep in my bathroom to sit on when I put on my make-up.

My back pain started to intensify.  I must have really slept wrong on my back.  Feeling somewhat dehydrated, I went to the kitchen and drank a full glass of water.  About fifteen minutes later, I was lying on the floor, sweating through my pajamas, trying to understand why I was in so much pain.

I sent my Mom a text.  I think I need for you to take me to the hospital.  I started vomiting and then, I checked my phone again.  No answer.

I made my way to Alex's bedroom.  

"Son, I need for you to get up and take me to the hospital."  

It was about the only words I could get out, and as a Mom, I'm pretty proud of his response.  Alex doesn't have his driver's license yet, but he has a learner's permit.  He got up, took one look at me, and quickly grabbed his socks and shoes.  He just knew without asking a single question, even though I know he was nervous about driving me.  

We didn't say another word to each other as we made our way to the car.  He grabbed the keys, and within five minutes we were out the door.  I sat in the passenger seat, sweating, contorting myself into all kinds of positions trying to get comfortable.  

Alex slowed the car down as traffic came to a stop.  I've never seen it happen in our town before, but early in the wee hours of the morning, we were stuck in a traffic jam.  

"You've got to be kidding me," I whined.

"Mom," Alex's voice was breaking, "what's wrong?"

"I think I have a kidney stone.  I'm not dying, but I'm just in a lot of pain."

Alex nodded.  We said nothing else to each other except the occasional direction from me on where to turn, and even in my pain, I managed to remind him to use a turn signal.  Once a Mom, always a Mom.

I was so relieved when he pulled up in front of the emergency room.  As luck would have it, a man was standing outside with a wheelchair.  I opened the door and instructed Alex to park the car without me.  He looked a bit alarmed but nodded his head and said okay.  

"Do you need this?" the man asked me.  I nodded as I climbed into the wheelchair.  I still don't know why he was standing outside with a wheelchair when no one else was there, but I am sure glad he was.

Alex parked the car and returned to the waiting room with me.  Soon, they were taking my vital signs, and trying to find me an empty room.  As I was being wheeled back to a hospital room, I felt the pain suddenly lift.  Slowly at first, then I began to experience a significant amount of relief.  

I turned to my son.  "Alex," I said.  "I'm beginning to feel better."

Alex grabbed my hand.  "I prayed for you as hard as I could in the car."

By the time I got to the hospital room, I stopped sweating.  They asked me if I needed painkillers, and ten minutes earlier, I would have given my right arm for a painkiller.  But, I turned it down.  The pain had literally gone from about a level ten to about a level one.  

"Maybe the stone dropped into your bladder." the nurse said.

"I don't know what that means, but if it means the pain stops, then I'm happy." I said.

A scan confirmed that's exactly what happened.  "That's rare that it happens so quickly," the nurse said.  "But when it does, the pain usually goes away and now you'll feel much better."

I looked at Alex.  We both knew why it had happened.  

I took the rest of the day off of work.  Going through something like that tends to be a bit draining.  But, I can't help but think about the power of prayer.  I don't even know if I prayed for myself going through it.  I know I probably did, especially when I was lying on the floor, but I don't really remember. 

I think something special happens when someone else prays over us.  It reminds me of how important it is to pray for others when they can't pray for themselves.  Alex's faith is so inspirational to me sometimes.  His first response is always to pray when he's confronted with a gigantic issue.

James 5:14-16 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another,that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

So often, we think of praying as a last resort.  When we've tried everything else, we give up and pray.  But, praying should be our first response.  Its our avenue to the God of the universe, and the power of prayer can never be overstated.  Miracles happen as a result of the power of prayer.

I am going to be doing a few more posts this week on the power of prayer, after I was so inspired by the events of last week.  The ability to know and be known by God through prayer is such an abundant blessing.  

I'm feeling much better this week.  I had to slow down a bit, which always gives me time to reflect and of course, write.  I am so grateful we have such a faithful, caring God who sees us when we struggle.  He never leaves us.  He hears the sweet prayers of a teenage boy praying for his Mom in the parking lot.  

We have a God who listens.