“Is there even a role for prayer? I think there is. Why? Because God is.”
This is how I ended my last thoughts on COVID. [Part Two]
Ironically, I then heard about Rep. Nancy Pelosi speaking on getting COVID under control and she said, “It won’t happen unless we respect science, science, science. And for those who say we choose prayer over science, I say, science is an answer to our prayers.”
I guess I’m one of those. Not that Rep. Pelosi will ever read this, but I thought I would share, what I would “say”.
My undergrad degree was a bachelors in science. I then went to medical school for 4 years studying more about the science of the body. For the last fourteen plus years I have practiced as an emergency medicine physician, daily using the principles of physics, biochemistry, biology, etc. to treat patients.
I believe in science. The scientific advancements we have made both in the realm of medicine and outside of it, just in my short life, are astounding. Science has undoubtedly improved our health and well being as a society.
Science absolutely has a role in the fight against COVID. The epidemiologist, virologist, and front line providers with science back grounds are all crucial in the battle.
Yet, although I do respect “science, science, science” I believe it will fall woefully short in this fight if relied on solely. Here are a just a few examples:
1. Despite all of our advancements in pharmacology and medicine, our world is getting its tail kicked by a virus too small for us to even see. We spend billions of dollars in the research and development of new medicines and we have exactly ZERO proven medicines to fight this virus. Our very best response to it is “stand 6 feet apart and wash your hands.”
Avoiding potential dangers is nearly instinctual from birth and washing our hands has been Hygiene 101 from early bible days. (Exodus 30:17-21)
2. Psychology is the scientific study of mind and behavior. Despite hundreds of years of study in this field of science, we cannot figure out how to convince people they need to stay home and stop congregating in large groups despite telling them the only defense we have is distance!
3. I don’t believe science will be all that comforting to the children that have and will lose their parents, the parents that lose their children, or the siblings that lose their brothers or sisters to COVID. I’m not sure science possesses the hope and encouragement that the front line health care workers will desperately need when the long hours catch up with them, the sick patients keep coming, and the numbers of deaths mount despite all of their heroic efforts.
So, forgive me, but rather than just relying on science, science, science, I think it also would be very wise to rely on prayer, prayer prayer.
Am I suggesting throw science out the window? Absolutely not. I’m washing my hands nearly as often as I’m taking a breath. I plan to wear appropriate PPE for as long as it lasts. I plan to use every scientific principle and tool at my disposal to fight COVID. I am begging my elderly parents, my family, and my loved ones to comply with all of the social distancing and to wash their hands.
BUT…..
I am also going to my knees in prayer because I believe God is. I believe He created the world we live in. I believe He didn’t just create it and walk away, but is intimately involved in it. I believe that He sees and is moved by the suffering that COVID is causing. I believe that He desires to bring hope, and comfort, and healing. Because that is who He is.
I believe that when we pray to Him, He answers. And I believe His answers are far better than science.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. Psalm 107:28-30
When COVID is but a dark spot in history, I hope the light that comes from it is that people will reflect back on it and see that the true hope came from faith in God and not just science.
