Translated Report (Hebrews 12:9-11)

Nearly all medical decisions are based upon the results of the laboratory.  These results are complicated and written in highly technical language, requiring years of training to properly interpret.  Ironically, the physician producing these results, the pathologist, very rarely communicates with the patient.  The patient that is able to understand their laboratory result is in a better position to make an informed decision regarding their medical care.  By sending us a copy of your medical report, a board certified pathologist will “translate” your report into everyday language.  Thus the patient can now access the tremendous resource of the pathologist.

Source: The Doctor’s Doctor website. 

This paragraph is from my website, which I created to help patients understand their pathology and laboratory reports. From 1998 until 2019, this informational website was dedicated to empowering patients. The website was very popular, garnering over 32 million internet hits in 2005. It was even mentioned in an article in the “Wall Street Journal” citing it as an important reference for patient information. It connected me with patients throughout the world and impressed upon me a very important lesson. When given a medical diagnosis, everyone is seeking to better understand their own disease. I can provide a very scholarly and detailed answer but at the heart of every inquiry is the question, “Am I going to die and if not, can I be cured?”

There is an important spiritual lesson. When I am hurting, I could turn to a theological discussion on the problem of pain and suffering. Indeed, I have learned a great deal from reading books by gifted evangelists, preachers, and theologians. However, while these scholarly discussions have shed great insight into my problem, at the heart of my every inquiry is the question, “Why is this happening to me?”

Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:9-11 (CSB)

God, our Heavenly Father, translates and explains the complex problem of pain and suffering by putting it into the perspective of our earthly fathers. We do not have to go to an internet site to learn of God’s wisdom. He freely gives it to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. If we confess and repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, God’s Holy Spirit will immediately indwell within us, always giving us guidance and direction to understand God’s purpose for our lives. 

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.