HOW GOD DELIVERED ME, When COVID Tried to Take Me Out

There is so much talk on television and social media about COVID, the vaccines, mask mandates, conspiracy theories, and myriad opinions that all contradict each other. Not to mention the politicization of it all has done far more damage by creating chaos and confusion!

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace..." - 1 Corinthians 14:33 NKJV

And when people feel overwhelmed or confused, they do nothing! And that is where my journey started.

Like so many, I was very skeptical about the vaccines - do they work or do they not? Do masks protect people or do they not? If you're not in the compromised category, then you are okay, right? So many backs-and-forths from so called "experts" seemed to be inconsistent and less than informative. In fact, their attempt to be informative created global chaos! The media platforms have hindered far more than helped! As a result, I thought I was fairly safe. And, worse case scenario, if I contracted COVID, I would probably have a few symptoms and overcome it rather quickly.

I WAS WRONG!

COVID attacked me suddenly and with little warning! I went from having a few minor symptoms to testing positive to being bed-ridden in the hospital for several days, and, even as I write this, I am on the road to recovery for at least two more weeks.

COVID opened my world to a whole new level of understanding. Due to the medications and steroids they were pumping me full of to fight the virus, my blood sugar level skyrocketed, threatening me with a new ailment - Diabetes! I had no appetite, whatsoever, and literally survived on nothing but water for the entire five days I was hospitalized. They kept trying to get me to eat, but aside from the horrific hospital food (the truth is it probably wasn't as bad as it smelled), I was afraid to eat because every bite I would take would only contribute to my increasing glucose levels. And I wasn't about to trade one ailment for another if I could help it.

During my stint in the hospital, I was extremely weak and lethargic. That isn't to say I rested at all. Anyone who has been hospitalized knows there is no rest in the facility. Every few minutes it seems someone is coming in to check vitals, poke, prod, draw blood, administer drugs, take an x-ray, or any number of other tasks. While this becomes a bit obnoxiously irritating after a couple of days, the fact is these health care professionals are doing everything in their power to help you - so you suck it up and try to be the nicest patient they have - knowing there are likely others who are less than kind, very demanding, and only adding to their stress and strain.

While I could go on and on about my experience in the hospital, the most important lessons learned from my COVID experience came through not only my personal battle, but conversations with those on the frontlines of this warfront. My ER nurse immediately triaged my situation and educated me on staying on my side or stomach and not on my back. She, along with pulmonologists shared that lying on my back would be a fast pass to a ventilator, and it would severely compromise my ability to recover quickly - if at all! That was a scary thought!

The next day, my doctor came in and we had a great conversation about expectations and he answered all my questions. He, too, had COVID in the past few months, and was able to make a full recovery. So, not only did he share in my new experience, but he was serving a hospital full of COVID patients. He shared with me that COVID is no respecter of persons and just the day before, he put two young, healthy, athletic boys (different families, but one was 17 and one was 19) on ventilators in that same hospital and he isn't sure if they are going to recover. That broke my heart because I have two teenagers myself, and I couldn't imagine the horror these two families were experiencing!

The doctor assured me that it was going to get worse before it got better, but if I did exactly what he said, I would be okay.

Those conversations opened my eyes. I witnessed an overwhelmed system with far too few medical professionals to handle the workload, while trying to keep themselves safe from contracting the virus. Despite their own concerns and cautions, they each have families they have to go home to, and they have children and loved ones they don't want compromised. While it is so easy for us to complain about less than stellar care or the constant bombardment of late night intrusions to take a temperature, I realized how very much most of these professionals are sacrificing to try to get a grip on this pandemic. And my thoughts and prayers go out to them all! Have mercy, extend grace and gratitude, and listen to those on the frontlines fighting the battle versus the talking heads on television and the myriad articles on social media. These people, and we, as patients, have are more credibility at this point than any of them have.

Aside from the medical personnel, the massive infusion of medications, and consistent work of all involved, the most overwhelming thing for me was God's presence. So many started praying for me, and I knew He was listening. While the drugs may have been fighting the virus, God was fighting on all fronts! I kept praying and speaking HIS word over me, singing hymns over my spirit, and relying on the power of HIS breath to breathe new air into my lungs!

I kept activating my faith. I kept feeding on HIS word. I kept praying for deliverance and healing. And He answered and is answering! When I left the hospital, a huge rainbow welcomed me and stayed with us all the way home (even as we made various stops along the way). The rainbow never left. My son pointed out the vibrant colors, and it choked me up. The rainbow has always been and will always be God's sign of deliverance, hope restored, and His promise of never leaving us or forsaking us! And that rainbow was my reminder He heard, He listened, He responded, and He delivered me from death's grasp. He is faithful, saints. And He hears your prayers, too!

Speak God's word over your life. When you are lying in a bed, alone, frightened, and unsure, HE hears you! He sees you! He is with you! Believe!

And may this powerful song that helped get me through the past few days be your anthem. Sing it, believe it, speak it, and don't let go of His hand. He will deliver you!