Tag: medical report

The Peace of God

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

The Peace of God for Anxious Hearts (YouVersion, Daily Refresh, June 29, 2026)

There is a lot of anxiety and worry in the world around us. Many people are worried about the quality of their future, the security of their investments, or the threat of sickness or war.

Anxiety and worry aren’t just things that happens around us, but something that can also happen within us. A lot of people struggle with anxiety over their future, their family, their finances, their career, or their personal health.

Scripture tells us that while there are some things that are within our control, most things in life are outside of our control. So more often than not, we spend time worrying about things we have no control over.

Scripture tells us that trust in God should fill the gap between reality and what we desire. We should not be anxious about the things we cannot control, but rather we should submit everything to God in prayer. He alone has control over the unknown.

That is why the writer of Psalm 4 says that he will lay down at night in peace, free from anxiety and worry. Even though the writer is surrounded by danger, he places his trust in God. That leads him to sleep peacefully in safely.

The quality of our sleep is often a symptom of our trust in God. If we are anxious and restless at night, it could mean that there are things we’re not trusting God with.

Spend some time considering your own heart. Are you anxious or filled with worry? Meditate on God’s power and sovereignty. Ask Him to fill you with His peace and assurance that He is in control of your future. Continually remind yourself of the promises that God has given you in Scripture.

My Thoughts

This devotional spoke to me this morning, particularly since I got another medical report yesterday. Apparently, all of this coughing, lightheadedness and swelling of my feet and ankles is being caused by something called pericardial effusion. That means I have some fluid around the sac of my heart, perhaps caused by a previous infection or one still present. As you can imagine, when I first read the report, I was in a little bit of a tizzy. My lungs are already a mess, my kidney is okay but not great, my bones are giving up on holding me up and now my heart is in rebellion, too. But you know what God had to say? “Be still and rest.” So, I did. I went to bed and slept soundly all night. When God’s peace is present, nothing can disturb it because it in His presence that we find the trust we need to face the next battle.

I see my PCP on Wednesday and will talk to him about all the stuff going on with my body. But I have already and continue to talk to God about it. He made me and I am not leaving this earth until He calls me home. So, today, tomorrow, next month, next year or years from now, I will be ready because I am ready now. Meanwhile, I will rest in His loving arms and just know that He has command of my ship and He will never steer me wrong.

God Is My Refuge

On By vickleaIn Scripture13 Comments

www.bible.com/1171/psa.62.1-2.mev

I had a rather rough day yesterday with some disturbing results on medical tests. Nothing terribly major for now. It’s just that my single kidney has lost more of its function, so now I am in stage three. My physician was not very forthcoming on what that means for me, but he did tell me to limit eating foods with potassium since my filtration system isn’t working well right now. That means limiting oranges, potatoes, tomatoes, melons and bananas. I was already on a limited diet because of my stroke (low sodium, low sugar), so this seemed like a heavy blow to me. I cried and mourned the loss of more things I enjoy, but God got hold of me and showed me that He is my refuge. He is my shelter. The absence of certain foods in my life should not totally shake me up. It’s just one more thing to deal with as I age with my numerous medical problems.

I am thankful to be alive. Do I wish that things were different? Of course! But there are worse things. Meanwhile, I am going to see my PCP and talk to her more about this Stage 3 thing and ask about a referral to a different nephrologist. This is the first time I had seen this doctor although I did have three virtual visits with him via the phone. On one of those calls, he decided that I should be taking a new blood pressure medicine. I filled the prescription and took it and the next morning, my BP was 80/40 and I was very dizzy. So, I called his office and he returned my call, telling me that if I could not tolerate that medication, I would need to see my cardiologist for advice about what to take. I did see my cardio and he changed my meds, telling me that the med the nephrologist had started me on often causes BP to suddenly drop. Hmm. So, after yesterday’s visit and his lack of communication, I’m ready for a change. I was asking questions and he was typing away on the desktop. Since being ignored was not helpful, I think that I should seek medical assistance elsewhere. But I am first and foremost depending on the Great Physician.

I did not sleep well last night. Insomnia has become a regular thing with me, and I usually get about five hours of sleep. Anyway, I awakened this morning with the Scripture that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God made me, not the physicians. God is taking care of me, not the physicians. The doctors are God’s helpers on earth and some are better helpers than others. That being said, back to the verse above. God alone is my rock, the One on whom I can depend; He is my refuge, the shelter for me when my world seems to be shaking. Everything around me might shake, but God is still the same and He will not allow me to be shaken as long as I am trusting in Him.

I hope that I have not bored you too much with my medical status today. I also hope that you will remember me in your prayers, but mostly I pray for God’s blessing on you and your day. May you fulfill His purpose in your life!

Blessed to be a blessing!