Can an act of inhumanity and cruelty, committed over 3400 years ago, provide insight for relieving the suffering of my precious wife? In today’s blog, I will answer that question. First, let’s review the atrocity: “Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore, it shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget” (Deuteronomy 25:17,18 NKJV).
Looking Back
Linda’s story (11/24/2016 – 3/31/2017) can best be understood as three simultaneously unfolding realities:
Medical Intervention: After the neurologist in Atlanta shut down his office, it quickly became apparent that getting an appointment with a competent replacement was months away. However, God intervened and used people of influence — some that I had never met — to secure an appointment for her at one of the most reputable clinics in Tennessee. She was evaluated at this new facility on December 7. Unfortunately, the lack of any medical records necessitated another series of physical evaluations, cognitive evaluations, lab work and imaging. Again, a definitive diagnosis was not forthcoming; instead, that goal grew even more elusive because her care now involved a medical team with differing specialties.
Symptoms and Behaviors:
- In early January, she developed excruciating pain in her hip which did not respond to any normal treatment. Together, an Immunologist and an Orthopedic physician developed a plan to provide relief.
- The debilitating physical symptoms were accompanied by breaks with reality and encroaching darkness. During these times, she was fearful that I would hurt her; and her actions, language, and behavior were completely inconsistent with her Christian values and beliefs.
- She alternated between doubting that we were married, and expressing a belief that we had been apart for years and only recently gotten back together.
Spiritual Warfare: While traveling together down the road of her increasing dementia, I had acquainted myself with the vagaries of this disease. In the same way, during nearly forty years of pastoring, I had on multiple occasions personally witnessed why God had warned his people to not forget the actions of Amalek. When the children of Israel were coming out of Egypt; in a savagely cruel act, Amalek attacked the procession from the rear where the elderly, the feeble, women and children were located. His actions were motivated by Satan; and in the ensuing centuries nothing has changed.
Confronted by symptoms that were consistent with advancing dementia, at face value, nothing seemed to be out of place. However, prompted by the Holy Spirit, I remembered Amalek’s strategy and connected it to Paul’s understanding of spiritual warfare: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12 NIV). Then, I recognized that Satan was attacking Linda in her weakened condition, and she was not able to defend herself.
Therefore, I put into place a plan of action outlined by Christ Jesus: “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven” (Matthew 18:18,19 NIV). I contacted our children, grandchildren, Linda’s siblings and my siblings. Standing on this truth, agreeing together, we cried out unto God, asking that Linda might be delivered from any influence of Satan’s scheme to degrade and humiliate her. Not overnight, but wonderfully and steadily, God answered our prayers. Now, even as the dementia progresses, Linda consistently manifests the marks of the Kingdom: righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Walking Forward
Each day, I visit her by Face Time or sit outside her window and speak by phone. Either way, I almost always pray with her and ask for blessings upon her nurses, caregivers and fellow residents. I conclude by saying, “Lord, when Linda sleeps tonight, let her have wonderful dreams of her heavenly home.” Recently, she followed my “Amen” with a heartfelt, “Praise God!” In light of the events of 11/24/2016 – 3/31/2017, those words are more beautiful than I can possibly describe!
Ron Harvard Ministries 