Written by: Sophia Roman
Article source: JOY! Magazine

Jesus was born in a smelly stable. He set aside His glory just so He could identify with mankind. The setting was most appalling, yet the angels lit up the sky, bursting with shouts of joy proclaiming “Glory” in awestruck wonder. “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest’ … The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.” – Luke 2:13-14,20

Christmas Gift from ICU to a General Ward

Fear is not an emotion
So it was and has been for Pastor Neil Hart, who found himself in a setting where he was as good as dead. He vividly remembers the 50 days of being sick and 42 days of struggling to stay alive – deeply affected with Covid during the 2nd wave. His oxygen levels were between 41% – 62% for weeks on end. As he arrived at the hospital, he was immediately placed on an oxygen machine and sent straight to ICU. The specialists advised his Juanita, his wife, not to go home, but to stay as long as possible as there was no guarantee that he would be alive the next time she visits.

Navigating between fight and flight
Neil experienced fear on an extreme level, navigating his emotions between fight and flight. Fear is a spirit and the attack was fierce. This was indeed a tug of war, while hearing an evil voice: “I am aware that your spirit and soul belong to Christ, but I am here for your body.”

“I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done.” – Psalm 118:17

Focus on the Great Physician
But then, it was as if Christ appeared to Neil for a brief moment. He recognised Him by the nail marks on His hands and feet. He heard, “Do not focus on your miracle, signs, or wonders. Focus on Me – the source of the Miracle, the Great Physician.” Clearly he heard Psalm 118:17, “I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the Lord has done.” A group of eight doctors told Juanita that every patient that was hospitalised there at the same time with Covid had died. Not one had made it, yet her husband was the only one still struggling to breathe. He should have passed already. In the meantime, in the 2nd week of his hospitalisation, Juanita prepared and made flags in royal colours to give God the highest glory for the day of her husband’s discharge from the hospital, by faith.

The Christmas gift
It was on Christmas day 2020 when a gift was presented to Pastor Hart by his Professor. “Today Mr Hart, I have a Christmas present for you. You are going to graduate from ICU to a General Ward.” At this stage he could not walk and was still on the Oxygen machine. What kept him going was that he took communion by himself on a daily basis. A group of pastors held daily prayer meetings via Zoom and he logged in every day from his hospital bed. This kept his spirits high.

Sitting with Pastor Hart today and hearing the process he went through, surely God granted him glimpses of His glory. Today he still proclaims: Glory to God in the Highest!

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Date published: 22/10/2021
Feature Image: Pastor Neil and Juanita Hart
Sophia Roman is a pioneer, visionary and life transformation coach. Sophia and her husband Theo pastor the West Reach AOG Church in Mitchells Plain.

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