Gurney Journey, July 24
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by David Gira
“While Jesus was preaching the word of God, four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man. But when they realized that they couldn’t even get near him because of the crowd, they went up on top of the house and tore away the roof above Jesus’ head. And when they had broken through, they lowered the paralyzed man on a stretcher right down in front of him!” (Mark 2:2-4 TPT)
I had waited almost an entire day to have a feeding tube put in. The nurses had me prepped and ready. Finally, a young man from transportation services knocked on my door. He came to take me to the procedure room located in a distant area of the hospital.
The transporter pushed the gurney into the hallway, and we took off. Being silly, I stretched my arms out overhead like I was taking off on a roller coaster. He quickly corrected me in a stern, serious voice, “Please keep your hands inside the gurney at all times.”
We wound through the maze-like hospital, turning here and there, speeding up and slowing down, weaving through heavy pedestrian traffic. We took an elevator down several flights, traversed another long hallway, made several more turns, and finally arrived at the procedure room.
I thanked my transporter. I would never have found my way or made it to my destination without his help.
The experience reminded me of an amazing Bible story—another gurney journey (see Mark 2:1-12). The news of Jesus coming to a town had spread quickly. A large crowd of people gathered at the home where He was staying, listening to Him teach.
A paralyzed man lay in a home nearby, perhaps unaware of Jesus’s closeness, or possibly hearing the excitement from afar. Bedridden, he had no way to go. We aren’t told anything about the man, but as those experiencing cancer, we can relate.
Four men remembered their paralyzed friend. He needed the touch of the Healer. They went to him, picked him up on his mat and brought him to Jesus. The crowd prevented them from getting in to see Jesus. Refusing to be denied, they hoisted their friend onto the roof, tore a hole through it, and lowered the mat with him on it down to Jesus’ feet.
When Jesus saw the friends’ faith, He forgave the paralyzed man’s sin. To prove He had authority to forgive, He physically healed the man, saying to him, “‘Stand up, pick up your stretcher, and walk home.’ Immediately the man was healed and sprang to his feet in front of everyone and left for home” (Mark 2:11-12a TPT).
Cancer can knock you down to the mat. You will need friends to pick you up. The Bible reminds us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV). You may need a ride, too.
Your best friends are those who bring you to Jesus. They will take you to the Lord in prayer, set you before Him, and ask for your healing and all you need. They will send messages, cook meals, and be the hands and feet of Jesus. They will testify to all that He has done and can do in your life. Now that’s a gurney journey!
Pray: Lord, thank You for all those who have gotten me where I needed to go. I am especially grateful for those who help bring me closer to You. And thank You for forgiving my sin and healing me. Amen.
Your Turn: Take time today to thank someone who has helped get you where you need to be. Pray and ask Jesus to forgive and heal you. Who can you help transport?
Michael David Gira, Jr., Cancer Survivor
David was an ordained United Methodist Pastor and graduate of Duke Divinity School. He and his wife, Amy, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina with their three children. In 2017 he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. In his book, How Cancer Cured Me, he shares many ways he experienced God’s healing. After a 7 year battle with cancer, David is now joyously singing praises in God’s glorious throne room. His legacy lives on through his writing for Cancer Companions, as he continues to proclaim Christ’s hope and healing power to others experiencing cancer. https://www.davidgira.com/how-cancer-cured-me
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