Alone in the Night

My husband and I arrived at the hospital at six o’clock in the morning.

My knee replacement surgery was scheduled for a few hours later.

I knew it would be an ordeal, but after enduring several years of pain that prevented me from hiking with my husband, something we both enjoyed, I was ready to take this step. I came through surgery and post-op with no complications.

With the aid of pain medication, I felt comfortable enough to tell my husband to go home for the day. “You’re tired,” I said. “Go home and get some rest. I will be fine.” I slept soundly until the medication wore off. Groaning in pain, I pushed the call button and waited.

And waited. It was two o’clock in the morning, and the hospital seemed eerily dark and silent. Why wasn’t the nurse answering? Had she deserted her post? I was hurting physically, but the sensation of being totally alone was more frightening than the pain.

Why did I tell Rich to go home? I needed him! I needed help! Where was everyone? I felt abandoned—even by God. After what seemed like hours, the nurse arrived and added the needed medication to my IV. I had a hard time hiding my annoyance, but she calmly reassured me I would feel better soon. Half an hour later, I drifted back to sleep.

The next day, I realized my wait for the nurse had not been as long as it had seemed at the time. The hospital was full. She undoubtedly had a reason for not responding immediately. That incident reminded me of the times I had been impatient when God did not answer my prayers right away or did not answer the way I thought He should.

He, too, must have His reasons for not responding.

I do not always know what those reasons are, but in time, I usually come to see that He had a plan brewing that was better than the one I had.

The Lord is always aware of our needs and always working on our behalf.

Even when we do not feel His presence—He is with us.

He is with us in the daytime and in the middle of the night. Scripture tells us that Jesus said, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20, NIV). And we do not even have to push a call button to get His attention!

Diana L. Walters