A Thankful Husband’s Prayer

By Michael Griego on September 17, 2021 • ( 4 )

My wife is recovering from a frightening event last week. People ask about fear, doubt, denial, depression, and if I blame God. No, I am thankful to God. ◊

After 7 days in the hospital my wife is back home and slowly but surely getting herself back to normal. It’s been an amazing episode in all of our lives as our world was turned upside down and then in one week allowed to reset itself.

That’s Debbie next to our daughter Lisa who helped her dad and the rest of the family work through all the details of this wild adventure. The picture was taken just earlier this week. I look at this picture and am so thankful to see both my wife and daughter, who herself 25 years ago spent a week in a trauma center after a brain jarring ski accident.

My wife’s issue is still a mystery. The neurologist and other doctors are saying that it very well could have been what they are now calling “post-Covid Syndrome” which manifests itself in various ways and can include mental processing issues.

Fortunately, it appears that time, rest, good medicine, and the prayers of friends and family is the right healing protocol.

Fear and Doubt?
I was talking to friend this week who asked me how I coped with this significant and hard-hitting event. He asked if I was fearful and doubted God during any of this. I shared with him my Biblical Viewpoint post from last week (A Husband’s Prayer for His Wife) featuring my prayer for my wife and my perspective in the context of God’s larger story. I told him that of course I was fearful but only as one fears the unknown or a sudden danger that rears up before us. I am not fearful of death in this life outside of the human sadness and tragedy for those that remain in this present life. For the Christ-follower, death is merely the entry point to a renewed life in eternity. Recall the words of Paul citing the prophet Isaiah in reference to spiritual goodness that surrounds all those that walk with God:

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9

Denial and Depression?
I had another friend ask if I faced some of the stages of grief like denial and depression. I would say that I was definitely in denial at the early warning signs. It took my adult children to jump to heightened levels of action after talking to their mother. I might have watched and observed for another half day before taking strong action. My kids were on it and called a doctor who raised the notion that this could be a serious vascular event and encouraged us to get her to the hospital as soon as possible.

I was more in shock over the next few days than in any form of depression. Saddened, confused, and worried about right medical procedures and medication levels, I weathered the week with the support of family and friends and the tremendous level of prayers that were activated by strong Christian prayer intercessors (those simply experienced and gifted in praying for other people in need).

I knew the whole situation was in God’s hands. And His will be done, not ours.

A Thankful Husband’s Prayer
So here now is my prayer this week in humble and heartfelt thankfulness:

My Lord God, thank you for loving us all as your creation. You are sovereign over all things and eternally all-knowing. Thank you for the events of this past week and all that has transpired from the early signs of problems to even now where Debbie is slowly recapturing her full mental capacities and processing skills. You have preserved her to live beyond last week now in full awareness and grateful knowledge herself of you and your love for each of us and our family. Thank you for the gift of life and the skills and knowledge of all the doctors and nurses and hospital workers who serve their fellow man with tireless devotion. But Lord God, we know that you are the Great Physician whose will has been played out here. I continue to surrender Debbie to you as well as our entire family to be used for your purposes in this present life. I ask for your Holy Spirit to continue to surround her and envelop her heart, mind, body, and soul, with your peace, love, and fullness. I thank you for your continued hand on us and humbly continue to petition for Debbie’s full and complete recovery. She and I will continue to seek you and will walk the path you lay before us. I pray this in Jesus’ name and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thank you again for your prayers.
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Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7