Scripture Reading:
DANIEL 8:15–27
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.
JEREMIAH 33:3
ATTRACTIVE AND ATHLETIC, Julie and Bryan Foster lived a charmed life. They were in their twenties, shared a passion for country music and the outdoors, and loved each other’s company.
Then Bryan got sick and sicker. Finally, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the deadliest form of cancer. During the next three months, Bryan’s cancer slipped into remission and he stayed the picture of health at six feet two inches and two hundred pounds.
Doctors discovered that Bryan’s brother was a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant. But before the operation could be scheduled, Bryan’s remission ended dramatically and he became too weak to undergo a transplant.
The doctor recommended that Bryan be admitted to Nashville’s Vanderbilt Medical Center for continuous treatment in hopes of forcing the disease into remission. Bryan and Julie took medical leaves of absence from their jobs and moved into the hospital. Julie slept on a cot beside Bryan during his intensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments.
“You’re going to be fine,” Julie told Bryan.
Surrounded by other dying patients in the cancer ward, Bryan spent a great deal of time in prayer, asking God to take care of Julie no matter what happened to him. He prayed for remission but also asked God for the strength to accept his death if it was his time.
Months passed and his doctors gave up hope that Bryan’s cancer would go into remission. A year after his original diagnosis, he weighed only one hundred pounds, was unable to walk, and rarely found the energy needed to sit up in bed.
“I don’t think he has much longer, Julie,” one doctor said. “I want you to be ready.”
Julie nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. But she was not ready to say good-bye to the only man she’d ever loved.
Then in the middle of the night, she was awakened by a nurse. “Mrs. Foster! Your husband has gone.”
Thinking that Bryan had died, Julie sat straight up. His bed was empty. “Where did you take him?”
“We haven’t moved him. We came in to check his vital signs and he was gone.”
“He hasn’t walked in two months. Besides, someone would have seen him.”
As Julie ran from the room toward the elevators, her eyes caught a movement in the chapel. Heading for the door and peering inside, she was stunned to see Bryan sitting in one of the pews, talking with a white-haired man she’d never seen before. Anger worked its way through Julie’s insides. Why had Bryan left without saying anything? And who was this man? Where had he come from at three in the morning?
After several minutes passed, she walked into the chapel. The stranger was dressed in a red-checked flannel shirt, blue jeans, and work boots. His skin was so white it appeared transparent.
“Bryan? Where have you been?”
He looked up and smiled, appearing stronger than he had in months. “Hi, honey. I’ll be back in the room soon.”
Julie turned toward the stranger and he looked at her. She was struck by the brilliance of his clear blue eyes.
Who is he? she wondered. “What’s going on?”
“Julie, please.” Bryan’s voice was gentle but adamant. “I’ll be back in the room soon!”
Reluctantly, Julie returned to his room and waited until finally Bryan joined her. Julie almost didn’t recognize him. With a wide grin on his face, Bryan was full of energy and walked with a strength that simply wasn’t possible. He was obviously at peace.
“Okay, who was he? What happened?”
“Julie, he was an angel.”
Bryan’s words were so confident they left no doubt in Julie’s mind that he believed what he said. She was silent a moment.
“I believe you,” she said softly. “Tell me about it.”
Bryan said he had suddenly awakened and experienced an overpowering urge to go to the chapel. His intravenous tubing had already been removed (which none of the nurses remembered doing when asked later). Climbing out of bed, he was suddenly able to move without any weakness. When he got to the chapel, he knelt to pray and then heard a voice.
“Yes.” Bryan turned around and the man was there.
“Do you need forgiveness for anything?”
For years Bryan had held bitter feelings toward a relative. Slowly, he told the man of his hatred.
The man told Bryan that God had forgiven him. “What else is bothering you?”
“Julie. My wife,” Bryan said. “I’m worried about what’s going to happen to her.”
The man smiled peacefully. “She will be fine.” Then he knelt alongside Bryan and the two men prayed together. Finally, the man said to Bryan, “Your prayers have been answered. You can go now.”
Bryan was certain the man was an angel.
Julie desperately wanted to talk to the man herself. She ran back to the chapel but he was gone. Next, she checked the guards posted at each elevator as well as those at the hospital’s main entrance. No one had seen anyone who fit the man’s description. Feeling defeated, she returned to Bryan’s room.
“Didn’t find him, right?” Bryan said, grinning.
“Where did he go? I really want to talk to him.”
“I guess he went to wherever he came from, honey.”
Slowly, Julie understood. If he was an angel, of course he’d disappeared. Bryan was right.
The next day Bryan was full of energy. Many physical manifestations of his illness seemed to have lessened or disappeared. Both Julie and Bryan thought he was miraculously in remission. Bryan spent much of the day encouraging and praying with other patients.
Two days later Julie awoke with a premonition of Bryan’s death, which made no sense. He looked vibrant and strong. And if his prayers had been answered, he was on his way to recovery.
That afternoon, Bryan suffered a pulmonary hemorrhage and immediately dozens of medical personnel swarmed around. While the doctors tried to save his life, Julie collapsed to the floor and began to pray. Almost instantly, she felt a peace wash over her and realized that this was part of God’s plan. Bryan had prayed that she would be all right, and in that instant she knew she would be. No matter what happened.
“Julie!” Bryan’s voice was clear, calm. Julie jumped to her feet and took her husband’s hand.
“It’s okay, honey,” she whispered, her tear-covered face gazing down at him. “It’s okay.”
Two minutes later Bryan was dead.
Now, well over ten years later, Julie believes that Bryan’s prayers were answered that night. He was given the gift of peace, of accepting his fate and not fighting it in fear. Also, he had been released from the bondage of bitterness and graced with God’s forgiveness. And he had been given assurance that Julie would survive without him. An assurance she clings to still.
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
JOHN 14:27