Day Seventeen – With Prayers and Groans

Rod started his medical care at Duke Hospital but for insurance reasons, he transferred to UNC Hospitals. God opened the door for Rod to be seen in March rather than what was initially available in July! One of his first appointments was with a liver specialist who explained to Rod and me in the simplest of words – “your liver has stopped working, you need a new liver.”  In ignorance, we said “Great! Let’s get a new liver!” We didn’t know what we were up against. 

Statistics were discouraging. On average, 20 people die every day from the lack of available organs for transplant. We were told that with liver transplantation, timing is very important. Rod would need to be ill enough to need the transplant but well enough to recover from the surgery. We were discouraged and I didn’t know how to pray. But I received comfort from the scriptures. 

Romans 8:26 New International Version (NIV)

” In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

While I didn’t know how to pray or what to pray for, the Holy Spirit knew exactly what Rod needed and was interceding for him! In addition, many friends and churches were praying for Rod. Everywhere we went, to church, the grocery store, the mall, the pool, at work and school, people would approach us and tell us they were praying for our family. 

Miraculously, in May 2002, as soon as he was added to the waiting list, Rod went to #1. We were thankful but it was a sobering thought to know that it was because he was so sick. I can remember when we got the call that he was at the top of the list. I just knew his transplant was imminent so I went home, ordered a pizza and dusted the house. I was just so nervous. Priorities, right?

Our waiting had begun. But God was with us in our wait. He heard our cries. He would not abandon us. He would be the foundation we would stand upon and He would be our strength. And in our wait, we would began to see miracles taking place in us and around us.

© 2019 Robin R King

Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV)

“I waited patiently for the Lord;

    he turned to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me out of the slimy pit,

    out of the mud and mire;

he set my feet on a rock

    and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth,

    a hymn of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear the Lord

    and put their trust in him.”