A walker is a common sight in an assisted living facility. As a person ages, their body becomes a little weaker. A walker is a wonderful help for people to be safely mobile. By leaning on the walker, a person has stability to stand up, walk, and even sit when they are a little tired of standing.
There are times when a person needs to be reminded to use their walker. Most of the time they just forget about their walker. A smile and a gentle reminder help the person remember where she parked their walker. The person is usually thankful for the reminder.
The Good Book reminds us that we can lean on God when we are weak. A person in the Bible, King Asa, prays: “O Lord, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak, Help us, O Lord our God for we rely on you.” (1 Chronicles 14:9). To rely on God is to lean on Him much like a person leans on a walker for support.
The Good Book describes how the “eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to give strong support” to those who need it. (2 Chronicles 16:9)
Let me tell you a story on how this works. I was doing pastoral visitation at the hospital when I met a friend in the hallway. She told me her dad was a patient. I had not planned on visiting him when I arrived at the hospital. I didn’t even know he had been admitted. But God knew.
I came to the hospital room. The entire family had gathered in the room. It was clear the father was very ill and would be passing. The father and the family were anxious. After listening to the family, I asked if it was o.k. for me to pray. Placing my hand on the father’s forehead, I leaned toward him and told him: “Your family is here. They love you. They want you to know that they will be o.k. if you go with Jesus to your heavenly home. I’m going to pray and ask Jesus to come and take you by the hand. He knows the way. You can lean on Him to guide you home.”
As I prayed, the anxiety left the room. God’s peace was noticeably present. The family needed a gentle reminder that God was near. God saw them in their weakness. They could lean on Him. That evening God’s peace stayed with the family. God safely brought their father to his heavenly home.
We all can use a gentle reminder to lean on God.
Chaplain Jeff Meyers