The Peace of Letting Go

Back in March this year, Mark had a fall that landed him in the Intensive Care Unit. While the scans showed a minor skull fracture behind his left ear and a small bleed around the brain, the doctors were unsure of the injury’s actual impact until after further monitoring.

I remember reaching the hospital and hearing Mark shouting in pain and at the medical staff. He was twisting and squirming in pain while physically fighting against the people who were trying to help him. This was not the rational and kind-hearted child we knew. He then fell into a disturbed sleep after finally receiving the necessary scans and treatment. And we began the wait - the wait for him to wake up and show signs of the injury’s impact.

During this period of waiting, there was nothing I could do for him medically. So I prayed. I prayed and asked my Heavenly Father to provide Mark with the medical help he needed and for my Almighty Father to have His healing hand over my son. I thanked God for being there and being in control of everything.

Our close friends and family also offered prayers. And as it is written, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16b). Mark finally woke up at 1 a.m. the next morning. Thanks to many of your fervent prayers, he woke up calm and lucid.

In Mark 11:24, Jesus said, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” How many times in our lives have our prayers been framed by our human assessment of what is possible to achieve through a simple petition to God? This verse tells us to simply pray with the belief that God hears us and will provide according to His will. Praying with absolute belief in God’s power and providence has indeed helped Mark in his recovery.

During my prayer, I decided to leave everything in God’s hands and was prepared to accept whatever was to come. In doing so, I became at peace with whatever the outcome might be.

As I write this account, I remember another time when Mark suffered a head injury. He was only a year old and had to be taken to hospital after falling on his head and denting his skull. I remember crying and feeling anxious and afraid.

This time, however, there was worry but no fear. There was calm and peace because, this time, I truly relinquished control and depended on God.

It did me good to remember that prayer is a privilege given to all of us as Christians. It comforted me to know that prayer is a direct avenue through which we can speak to our Almighty Father in Heaven—to praise and thank Him, talk to Him and make requests of Him. It gave me peace to know that God is in full control of everything.

Sisters, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).