Have you ever seen someone who has “gone amok”? As a nurse, I have.  One time, I had passed the meds for 6PM and was starting the paperwork when a patient I had just given meds to, came to the Nurse’s Station.  She told me that the pills I had just given her were bitter.  She then proceeded to throw a glass of water at me.  I, in my best Mother voice, said loudly and sternly to her, “Go to your room.” She did so immediately.  After I had wiped myself off, the Head Nurse and I proceeded to go to her room and talk to her.  As we approached her room, the patient in the other bed came screaming out of the room that the woman was trying to set her on fire.  The patient in question followed with a box of matches and was throwing lit matches at the other patient.  The Head Nurse and I quickly intervened, got the matches, and subdued the woman. We moved the roommate to a private room and had an aide stay with the patient until the Dr. arrived and ordered sedation.  We never knew the why that set her off, although an unknown addiction and withdrawal was thought to be a possibility. We all have our demons and sometimes they gang up on us.  Whether it was an undiagnosed mental illness, a withdrawal reaction, or she just didn’t like my pills, the woman was possessed for a bit with an unknown entity. She was kept on sedatives and seemed herself for the rest of the time she was in the hospital. I was glad she had matches and not a gun. Whenever I thought of her, I thought of the man possessed by a demon in the bible.  

A lot of people have demons. They have not lived the ideal life but have struggled with parents that were cruel, sexual abuse, neglect, bullying, or any one of the endless evils that can affect our lives such as addictions and mental illness. This is not the life God wanted for any of his children.  He will help us fight our demons.

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God! “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.

Luke 4:33-35

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28

Lord be with those who are carrying life’s burdens, comfort them, give them your peace. Be with those who are ill, those who grieve, those who are tortured by life’s hardships, may they find you in their midst waiting to carry their sorrows.  Be with our church that we may be the hands and feet of Christ. May all who enter our doors find you waiting.  Be with our Pastor and his family, bless his ministry, be with our staff, bless them in all they do as they serve. Be with our children and teens, may they know that you are always near. Thank you, Lord, for your blessings in our lives. Amen

Grace Epperson