The question for this post is how should Christians “guard their heart” when getting bad news from a doctor, or anyone else?
Should a believer respond in the same way as a non-believer to bad news from the doctor?
It is proposed certainly not. The opinion of a practicing doctor should not be “taken as gospel,” of course knowing what was said and well documenting what they suggest and hearing them out is of course important, but to take what they say and then determine from it if God can heal seems like too much credit is being given to doctors. They are amazing people, but God? Guarding our heart is important. Faith decisions can be made considering God alone, not the first opinion from a doctor.
God first then our circumstances
What is meant by saying people make doctors out to be God, is they take the information given by a doctor and immediately bring it into their heart where they process doubt instead of faith as their belief and then what results is anxiety which can overwhelm them when they don’t have a proper understanding of how the heart works from a Biblical prospective. This can happen when anything or anyone is placed above God.
The anxiety can then result in procrastination and self-fulfilling prophecies because doubt is ultimately a belief in an outcome we don’t desire and we live as results of our beliefs.
Other blog posts talk about the importance of faith verses doubt but basically that’s what we wrestle with everyday, faith in God or doubt because of circumstances this battle takes place in the heart.
Choosing faith results in pleasing God. Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and everything will be added unto you, could literally be one of the most powerful verses in the Bible, and it demonstrate that point.
We worship God not doctors or our circumstances even if they are given to us by a genuine authority God is still first and it very well may be the doctor is representing God in our lives and telling us exactly what we need to do to start getting better..
So what should the average Christian say specifically when getting bad news from the doctor? Say “oh no” keep the information outside of the heart.
Follow the formula from James 1:19. Be quick to listen and slow to speak and slow to become angry. Be slow to bring though news into the process center of your heart.
Avoiding crippling anxiety while already dealing with a health issue might just save someone’s life. That is the point. Of course due what doctors suggest just be prepared spiritually to guard your heart if you hear bad news.
Verses used in thinking about this blog post.
”Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.“
Proverbs 4:23 KJV
”My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.“
James 1:2-4 KJV
”So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.“
Psalm 90:12 KJV
”Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?“
Luke 5:23 KJV
”But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.“
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
”Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.“
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
”And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.“
Matthew 8:5-10 KJV
”Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:“
James 1:19 KJV
”whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.“
James 4:14 KJV
”But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.“
2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 KJV
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.“ Proverbs 17:22 KJV