New Poll: Miracles Can Save Terminally Ill
Aug 20th, 2008 by Dr. Rus
A world in search of hope. A nation is search of hope. A people in search of hope.
It’s a truth that’s been around since the beginning of time. No matter who you are, no matter where you are, and no matter how good, or how bad your life situation might be - People are always searching for hope. When the nation of Israel found themselves exiled in Babylon, and for all intents and purposes it looked like God had turned His back on them, they still found a message of hope. Ezekiel, exiled with Israel in Babylon, declared a message of hope to the nation encouraging them to establish themselves in the midst of their enemy, pray for the prosperity and peace for those around them, and they too would discover peace and prosperity. That sounds like a message of hope to me.
Meanwhile, things looked quite different in Israel. There we find a rag-tag remnant of the nation living amidst the ruins of the once great City of Jerusalem. They may not be in Babylon, but the Babylonian rulers are all around them, reminding them each day that the once great nation of Israel, is no longer a force on the earth.
But, did the nation of Israel lose hope when surrounded by foreign leaders…
…no, instead, they too found a message of hope in the midst of disaster.
Jeremiah encouraged those still in Israel by reminding them that God’s plans are always to “prosper them and not to harm them.” Ultimately giving those facing turmoil on every side, “purpose and destiny and hope for the future.” With all of this in mind, I find it amazing when people are surprised by polls which say people are looking for hope.
Making headlines this week — New Poll Says Most Think Miracles Can Save Terminally Ill — This comes as a surprise why? News agencies all over the place used the story as their lead. Most announcers read the story with a sound of surprise in their voice. But again, I ask the simple question — Why the surprise? When facing turmoil and tough times, people are always searching for a sense of hope.
According to the survey, when medical treatment for a dying relative appears futile, a majority of Americans believe that miracles can still happen. The survey, which appeared in the Archives of Surgery, said 57 percent of one thousand adults surveyed believe the hand of God could save a loved one, even if a doctor tells them there’s nothing more that can be done. As a result of the survey, researchers say Doctors “need to be prepared to deal with families who are waiting for a miracle.” The article went on to encourage Doctors to be more sensitive to the belief of miracles in order to gain the trust of patients and their families. In that way, it may be easier to explain to them that further treatment of someone with a terminal condition may be pointless. When asked the same question about God’s intervention, close to 20 percent of Doctors acknowledged they would also hold out for a miracle.
For I know the plans I have for you…not to harm you, but to prosper you…giving you hope for the future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
People in search of hope. It’s been with us since the beginning of time. No matter what you might find yourself facing, remember that we can always find hope for the future when we remain anchored in the belief that God’s plans are not to harm us, but to prosper us, giving us a sense of hope, purpose and destiny.
A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus
