His kidneys were failing, he had double pneumonia in his lungs, no one had a clue about his brain function and a ventilator seemed to be the only thing keeping him alive.  I could hear the discussion taking place on the other side of the curtain. It wasn’t good and my stomach was in knots.

After the physicians’ rounds were over, I pulled the chief physician to the side- “Is there something you need to tell me? Is it over?”

My previous interactions with this woman were very matter of fact, but not this time. With the most hope filled eyes I have ever seen, she answered me, “Oh no, it’s not over.”

It wasn’t a fake, I want to be hopeful kind of hope- this doctor believed what she was saying and I knew she was willing to do anything and everything in her power to see those words come to pass.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I witnessed this doctor along with a team of physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and nurses attend to dad’s every need.

That’s what was happening in the natural…

In the supernatural…I saw friends, family and even strangers bombard heaven’s throne room with prayers offered on Dad’s behalf. My husband would even place his phone by dad’s pillow and allow the faith filled prayers of loved ones to echo the walls of dad’s ICU room.

I watched the power of two HOPE FILLED worlds collide…God used a team of health care specialists and an army of prayers warriors to produce a miracle.

Now I know A plus B doesn’t always equal C. We can do all the “right things,” but tragedies still happen which may only make sense on the other side of eternity.

But friends, we can’t lose hope…and we can’t lose our ability to offer that hope and comfort to others.

In 2 Corinthians chapter 1, Paul speaks to the church in Corinth.

Verse 4 states, “God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

The word ‘comfort’ means encouragement,  cheer or consolation.

It’s a letter about suffering, but he uses the word ‘comfort’ ten times in five verses. I think Paul is trying to tell us something.

Whatever comfort we’ve received through life’s trials….we now need to extend towards others. Not a fake, I want to be hopeful kind of hope, but a deep rooted, you will get through this kind of hope. I don’t know about you, but I want the world to see it in my eyes.

After sixty eight days, my father in law walked out of the hospital…and almost four years later, I can still picture the hope I saw in that doctor’s eyes.

I pray God uses each one of us to extend His comfort, His hope and His love. This world surely needs it.

-Binu