By Jason VanderLugt
I work as a pediatrician at Holland Hospital. One of my responsibilities is assessing and treating newborns when there is a problem. The parents will often ask me “Is he going to be okay?”
Thankfully, most of the time I’m able to tell them yes, he will be fine.
But here’s the truth: I’m lying. I can look a baby over well and be reassured that he looks perfect right now, but I have no idea what the future holds. Will he be diagnosed with leukemia in kindergarten? Will he be weighed down with depression or anxiety as a teenager? I’m sure he will be hurt at some point, but that’s not really what we’re talking about right now.
Our health and our lives are often out of our control. With our current pandemic affecting so many aspects of our day to day, I have a couple thoughts based on my career working in the uncertain.
BE STILL. “Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46).” “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still (Exodus 14).” It is really hard as humans to let go, especially in our culture. You can’t ever completely let go; you still need to wash your hands, social distance, and wear a mask when you go out. It is good to do things like help out at food banks and look out for the suffering in our community. But as you are sitting around the house watching news or browsing social media and you are feeling the weight of EVERYTHING, try to listen to God here. Be still.
GIVE THANKS. “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess 5:18).” When I’m feeling stressed, worried and afraid, I will often meditate by stopping and thanking God. Sometimes I can articulate a specific thing I’m thankful for—a “silver lining”—but sometimes that’s not so easy to see. Still, I try to give thanks. It may not be until later that I can see God in a given situation. One of the most heart-breaking births I have been to has become a memory of hope that I continue to think about at least once a week (check out Our Story for more information). When I give thanks and glorify God, I am fulfilling a purpose that he made me for. It doesn’t make everything perfect and easy, but it does bring me peace.
I don’t know when this current pandemic will be over. New data and recommendations are coming out every day and it seems like at least in West Michigan our efforts are “flattening the curve,” which lets us in the hospital have the resources available to help those that are sick. For that I appreciate every one of you who is doing their part. All of us at the hospital are also grateful for the support everyone in the community has shown us frontline workers from sidewalk chalk drawings to cards to gifts of food for the break rooms. I don’t know what the future holds, but with all the certainty that I can have, I can tell you that we are going to be okay.