“A gentleman came for the Medical Screening services because of abnormally high blood pressure. He got his initial blood pressure reading at the front. In the morning, his first blood pressure reading showed his systolic blood pressure at 180! After he filled out his paper work, he anxiously waited to be called to the Medical Clinic. When we were ready for him, he shared with me that he had an extreme anxiety over his high blood pressure and how it was impacting his work, marriage and quality of life. I spoke to him and asked about his lifestyle. He shared that he had given up coffee and had started to eat healthier but he was unable to control the stress from work. As we discussed his lifestyle, I began to go through the principles of NEWSTART (Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, and finally, Trust in God). The more we conversed about lifestyle, I could visibly see his demeanor changing. He began to feel and look much more calm. When we discussed Trust in God, it appeared like the conversation was helping him better understand how praying and giving his worries and stressors to God would help him with overcoming his anxiety. “I really need God in my life,” he would share. He never knew that faith in God could factor into lowering his high blood pressure! When we discussed this, he smiled at the thought. He mentioned that he has not fully trusted in God and prayed over his health. Suddenly, a thought came to me–“why don’t you take his blood pressure again?” At the end of this conversation, I took his blood pressure. I could not believe my eyes. This time, his systolic blood pressure was at a 130! We were both in disbelief! The gentleman left the medical screening recognizing that by simply trusting in God, his blood pressure COULD lower! In my years and years of nursing, I have NEVER seen a blood pressure lower to that point in just a few hours. God is good… God will lower our blood pressure!”

Volunteer, Registered Nurse, Hollister Life Hope Clinics

Let’s continue to pray for our guests! God can lower our blood pressure indeed!