Restoring Life--Ephesians 3:20

Day 5

The end of the Restoring Life:  A Study of God’s Word for Postoperative Patients devotional finds me at my lowest point so far.

The devotional accurately describes my place in the healing process:

“You’ve made it through surgery and your body is on the road to recovery. But there is still a greater work yet to be done. You may feel overwhelmed as you look at the long, winding road before you. You’re probably experiencing pain during your recovery as well. But without the hard recovery step, we wouldn’t experience the prize of restoration. And before you can step into recovery, surgery has to take place. Each step is necessary in its own way.

The truth is that recovery is hard work. Just like our relationship with Christ can be hard work. It takes effort and intentionality. But in the end, it’s worth everything we put in.”

I am overwhelmed with the knowledge that my knee isn’t going to be pain-free or ready to go for a LONG time.

I’m reacting poorly to a fresh bout of stiffness and pain I woke up with and knowing I have a PT appointment later this morning fills me with dread.

Concentrating on Ephesians 3 is helping some:

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

But the promise of restoration is mostly obscured by thoughts like–What if I can’t take the pain anymore? What if this goes on for MONTHS?

Then the topper to this pitiful tree of woe and self-pity is the realization that when Dawn was suffering with pancreatic cancer, she had ALL of this pain and more WITHOUT the prospect of getting better.

She suffered through cancer knowing she was going to die from it.

That perspective makes my current painful situation laughable and pathetic in comparison.

And making the connection between the immeasurable power of God in Ephesians 3:20, Dawn’s affliction and eventual death, and my surgically repaired knee is like going under anesthesia again–except the Holy Spirit is my anesthesiologist this time instead of a vague and indistinct guy that looked like he wanted to be anywhere but in the OR.

Clearly, there is more than my  knee being worked on here.

Henry Blackaby writes:

“We need to remind ourselves that the Father sees the “big picture,” that His power far exceeds our limited imagination. We must set aside our own agenda, however lofty. We must never become satisfied with our own dreams, for they are finite at best. When we follow God's direction, we will witness things happening in our lives that can only be explained by His powerful presence. How could we be satisfied with anything less?”

As I hobble through this time of recovery, unless I am intentional about it, I don’t see what God is doing or even why He is doing it.

Pain makes me less contemplative and the only introspection I can muster is how to make the pain stop.

But I am not forsaken.  God accomplishes more than I can imagine through His immeasurable strength.  Through the Holy Spirit’s power, rather than any strength that I have.

Because, this morning, I have little.

Lord, we thank You for the assurance of Your power within us that exceeds our imaginations.  We acknowledge that our finite minds struggle to grasp Your plans and purposes.

Lord, help us when we feel discouraged, limited by our circumstances, and unsure of the future.  Remind us that Your power is at work within us.

Amen.

PS. Apparently I enjoy pain more than I thought I did because I’m going to take a look at Matthew Waymeyer’s Revelation 20 and The Millennial Debate so I can explore the end times aspect of my faith.

I should probably just have my other knee done.  🙂

Onward!