Empowering the faith and healthcare conversation MARSHALLTOWN MEDICAL & SURGICAL CENTER

Faith on Fridays—Connecting Faith and Healthcare

Definitions are always good. In the Luther’s Small Catechism the question “What does this mean” is echoed as a means to confirm understanding of core principals of faith. I am often amazed by my five year old who loves to get to the heart of the meaning— “But Dad, what does that mean?” Without think-ing I can gloss over someone else’s grasping of a key concept, a medical term or definition—or the application of such concepts to real life.

Scripture aids us in defining what exactly faith is. From Hebrews 11 we hear these familiar words: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assur-ance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Confidence and assurance in what we hope for comes from God. The very same God who breathed the breath of life into Adam and Eve also whispers our name even in the darkest of life’s circumstances.

I challenge you and our patients to seek out the Psalms when faith seems far off and the realities of pain are ever near. One of the Psalms that is close to my heart is Psalm 139. It speaks of a God who knows us by name, a God whom is with us even when we feel the depths of despair, a personable creator who is ever present: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light be-come night around me,”12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Be still and know that God is still speaking, still abiding, and still ever present even in our moments of doubt, regret, pain, and loss.

One of the true gifts you can provide our patients and families is to speak the language of faith—when that is natural and comfortable for you. You may ask, “What do I say? I may be a person of deep faith … but even I do not even know what to say at this moment.” Speak the comfort of God’s Word to them using the Psalms. Let me calm your minds by saying that you do not need to have all the answers! Thanks be to God that I learned that early on in ministry. The gift that comes through faith is fully relying on God—His Word, His pres-ence, and not on my witty answers, my ability to explain why something may have happened, or what God may have up his sleeve. To be a person of deep faith is to speak how God has revealed Himself to you.

May God bless you in your vocation here at MMSC. Chaplain Kris Snyder

Friday, 29 August, 2014

Lord God, you have

called your servants to

ventures of which we

cannot see the ending, by

paths yet untrodden,

through perils unknown.

Give us faith to go out

with good courage, not

knowing where we go,

but only that your hand is

leading us and your love

supporting us; through

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Guiding Prayer

Sacramental Requests can be

made directly to the

Chaplains Office

X1628

PLEASE LEAVE PATIENT

NAME AND ROOM #

ON CALL CHAPLAIN

Chaplain Snyder is on call

through Monday, Septem-

ber 1, 2014

What exactly is faith?