Gò0dNews for Life
Following Doctor’s Orders
A
by Cheryl L. Dunson
careless accident, which led to a life-threatening
much time contemplating the stupidity of my decision to
situation, made me realize how not following a
ignore the doctor’s order. I also had time to reflect on how
doctor’s orders can have the same repercussions as
ignoring God’s will for our lives can lead to tragic results.
not following God’s will for our lives. They can both result
The nurse might have gotten more of my attention
in unsolicited reproach, unnecessary complications, and
if she’d said, “Stay off your foot or you can develop a
unforeseen consequences in our lives.
blood clot.” But, since she was the medical professional,
After running into the house from a rain storm, I
I should’ve heeded her original advice without question.
tripped over a rug. I thought I’d twisted my ankle, but I
Similarly, when we ignore or question God’s direction for
went to the hospital the next morning to be safe rather than
our lives, we’re abandoning our faith in Him and trusting on
sorry. I thought an x-ray would be prudent and rule out a
our own understanding, which is usually never fruitful.
broken bone. Obviously, Dr. Dunson (who has no medical
According to the New International Version Life
training or expertise) was wrong. I learned I’d fractured
Application Bible, persistence is good, but stubbornness is
my ankle.
usually self-centered. Likewise, stubbornness towards God
As the nurse in the emergency room was putting a splint on my leg—and giving me instructions to rest and stay off my feet—I refused the prescription for pain medicine and decided to suck it up. I returned to
is always disobedience. We’re told to avoid disobedience because the consequences may spill onto others or create greater problems (Ex. 8:15). We can choose to be close to God or to go
work the next day and hobbled around. Within a
our own way, but there are consequences
few days, my entire body ached, and a few days
resulting from our choices. Samson didn’t
later, I realized something was terribly wrong
choose to be captured, but he chose to be
with my chest.
with Delilah. Sadly, he couldn’t escape the
A return visit to the emergency room revealed
consequences of his decision (Judges 16:21).
a blood clot in my lung, which I never imagined
Finally, many of the plans we set in
could be the direct result of walking on a broken
motion cannot be reversed. It’s best to think
foot or leg. Instead of a few days off work, I
of the potential consequences before we
was hospitalized and then ordered to two weeks of bed rest. While the outpouring of love and concern from
launch into action we may later regret (Matthew 27:3-4). When I finally returned to work and my boss asked me how I was feeling, I
my friends and church
simply replied, “Not listening
family was emotionally
to the doctor is like not
overwhelming but
listening to God.”
appreciated, I spent
22 // July 2022
