Everyone knows I put my faith in Jesus Christ. And if you didn't know, well now you know. I've wrestled with trying to figure out how to point back to Him in all areas of my life. In struggling to start my private practice and keep it afloat, I'd gotten to the point where I had to let it go and trust in God to take care of everything. Now, with the disruptions of COVID-19, I find myself seeking Him even more, but I don't find myself as anxious or worried as people think I maybe "should be."
Here's why. To start off, I'm grateful to God to have even had the opportunity to start this practice… Heavenly Plastic Surgery - a name I had chosen before I even accepted Christ into my life. I'm thankful to God for bringing so many patients here so far and for allowing me to try to serve them as best I can. I'm grateful for having an amazing team that cares about the work they do and cares about the patients as much as I do. I'm grateful that He made these hands, these eyes, and this mind fit to operate. I'm grateful that He made this heart want to do good in the lives of others.
It's easy to praise Him for all of the good in our lives, but we must also be able to praise Him during the struggles as well. Because of COVID-19, we've stopped seeing all patients except for urgent or emergent follow-ups. We've stopped all surgeries, and without surgeries, this practice has no income. Despite this, I'm thankful that He prepared us to withstand more than several months of no income. I'm thankful that I can still provide paychecks for my staff. If my practice should fail because of this, I know and trust that He will take care of us by placing us in the next phase of our careers, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to experience it.
Recently I signed up for the CA HealthCorps, knowing that I may be sent to the front lines (I'm still waiting to hear back if they need me). I pray for God to use me to serve others who are sick and suffering right now and that they might know that I'm able to help only by His grace and strength. I thank God for my health and that I don't have a family of my own to care for (as much as I've wanted one) so that I could have this potential opportunity to serve across the country during this pandemic.
Should I fall ill, I thank God for using this as an opportunity to show His glory by healing me. And should I not be healed, I thank Him for this brief time He's allowed me to be on earth and for finally bringing me back to Him in heaven through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The point is that every detail of my life has been by God's design, and so I look to only Him for guidance, strength, and wisdom. This brings a peace and joy that I could never find for myself, especially during these harrowing times, no matter what happens.
If you don't believe in God, I pray that you also open your hearts to Him right now. Ask Him to help you put your faith in Jesus Christ and accept the amazing gift that he gave to you by dying on the cross. In doing this, I pray that you understand that Jesus paid the ultimate price for everything wrong you've ever done and ever will do. Instead of condemning you for those things, He has written your name on the registry in heaven and has planned your homecoming. Through this coronavirus pandemic and through all the other struggles in life, I hope you come to know with such certainty that He is always with you and that He loves you dearly. I hope that understanding brings you a peace and joy that you never knew before and that you will never lose. I pray all of these things in Jesus' mighty name, the maker of all the heavens and of all the earth. Amen.
God Bless!