“Can I pray for you? Can we pray together?”

I never had a patient offer to pray for ME before… there wasn’t even anything I was upset or particularly worried about. He and I were just visiting and catching up like we always did, but he took my hands in his and we prayed together.

All too often, my walls become high and thick as I work. Mostly to cope with the stress, busyness… and sometimes heartbreak, of the day. But what a beautiful, sacred, safe space my patient offered in that moment!

After we said “Amen”, we started talking about life and the path we’re called to follow. We shook our heads chuckling at the unpredictability of it all… . “Sometimes I wish it was easier,” I admitted.

My patient suddenly got a far off look in his eyes and carefully said, “I know. But with Him, it is easy to be brave.”

I tried not to look dumbfounded… Easy?!? I saw this man’s medical chart, I took care of him for a long time, there was nothing about what he was going through that was easy. But I kept my questions to myself.

We kept talking. He told me again about all the ways God was faithful to him and all the people he was grateful for. Then he reached in a box on the table, and gave me a “pocket cross” to keep and remind me of God’s goodness.

As I drove home processing our conversation, God revealed the key in my patient’s statement. It wasn’t “easy” or even “brave”… it was “with Him”. .

With Him.

With Jesus it is easy to enter into the unknown. With Jesus it is easy to face brokenness. With Jesus it is easy to be brave.

Without Him, I would not be here. . “The Lord is my strength and shield.”

Psalm 28:7