In my last post, I began walking with you through practical aspects of how to make hospital visits. We looked at understanding the dynamics of a patient’s situation in the hospital and various types of ministry he or she might need. This week, I want to continue looking at that subject, making five specific suggestions.
Talk a Lot Less and Listen a Lot More – Many people are uncomfortable with silence and can be uncertain how to minister…so we tend to talk. However, there is no way (apart from a supernatural revelation from the Spirit) that you can know what the patient is feeling and what they need if you do not listen. It is arrogant and insensitive to walk into a situation and assume we know everything going on and everything needed without taking the time to ask good questions and listen carefully.
Remember This is Not About You – Unless the person simply needs to get their mind off things for a while, a hospital visit is not the time to get your friendship needs met. It is not the time to tell the patient about your latest illness, fond memories, or family happenings. The visit is about taking the love and touch of Jesus to the sick person. True ministry is self-less, not self-focused. If someone is dealing with a life-shaking condition, she or he needs you to care about her or him, not place the focus on you.
Get Mentally and Spiritually Prepared – Does going to the hospital cause you stress? Do memories of a loved one in a particular hospital come back when you go there? Are you worried about your own health? You will need to put all of these things in Jesus’ care and lay them aside to be ready to focus on the patient. Are you in the flesh – agitated about something, focusing on worldly things, assuming you can minister in your own expertise? Spend enough time asking for the Lord’s guidance and being centered in Jesus to be spiritually minded and empowered by Him.
Discern How Explicitly to Talk About God – Everything in life that is not sinful may be sanctified by God’s presence, and life ought to be lived in worship of God. However, the need of the moment dictates how specifically the interaction is focused on God and the patient’s walk with God. If the patient simply needs diversion, you can provide that while being aware of anything in the conversation that may signal a need for a spiritual emphasis. If the patient needs you to be present and quiet, you must cultivate the skill of listening to the patient and to the Holy Spirit simultaneously. This time is very much about God, even if you do not talk about Him a lot and even if you do not read Scripture. Finally, if comfort and encouragement is needed, the truth of God’s Word and reminders of God’s care should be verbalized. The time is always about God, but how directly you talk about God will vary. I suspect, however, that most of us need to verbalize the involvement of God in our visits more than we do.
Use Scripture Accurately – In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul writes, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth” (NIV). There is everything right, powerful, and comforting about the Word of God when it is applied to our lives truthfully…when we are careful to be honest with the context and God’s intention for any passage. For example, Bernard Ramm, in Protestant Biblical Hermeneutics, reminds us (in dealing with Bible promises) to ask whether the promise is specific to a given time or person and whether the promise is conditional before we try to apply it to our lives today. This sort of care is what I mean. We must understand and use the Word accurately so we truly bring encouragement and help to the persons with whom we minister.
As you think about and apply these suggestions, I want to give you two overarching questions that will help you minister well in any setting. The first question is, “Whose needs am I trying to meet (yours or theirs)?” The second question is, “Do I really know what is needed?” Honestly asking and answering these questions will help us keep ministry about its recipients and improve our work.