“Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter trials of various kinds, for the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so you will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1
“There is no university for a Christian, like that of sorrow and trial.” CH Spurgeon
“There is no greater mercy that I know of on earth than good health except it is sickness, and that has often been a greater mercy to me than health.” CH Spurgeon
Tomorrow I will have my third shoulder surgery, my first on my left shoulder. I’ve had two previous surgeries on my right shoulder. It was in these long matriculations at the university of shoulder suffering I learned much of the bounty of God’s overflowing mercy.
While everything about the brokenness of my left shoulder (only a rotator cuff tear and some bicep tendenosis☺) suggests that this surgery and recovery will be nothing like the first, I am deeply encouraged by the memory of some of the mercy lessons I learned in earlier courses. As with many studies, these are studies that bear repeating over and over.
1. God is so so near in pain. Shoulder surgery brought with it some of the most intense physical pain of my life. I learned to close my eyes and whisper, simply, “Be near me Lord Jesus.” He spread his nearness into my body like a warm drink on a brutal winter’s night.
2. I need God. For everything. Breathing. Getting up. Walking. Eating. How did I ever go through so many minutes of life thinking these things were automatic and that I could do them all by myself?
3. I need people. The heavenly Potter has to throw this lump on the wheel over and over to get my stubborn self-reliance molded out of me. People ask me, “Why do you have to have so many shoulder surgeries?” I truly don’t know, but my best guess: “Because I haven’t learned well how to help other people carry things with/for me.” (Okay, not to mention an active life-style that has included tennis, windsurfing, aerobics teaching, and child-carrying:)!”
4. Receiving care is tough. Related to number 3 above…People arrive emotionally, spiritually, and physically with all sorts of care – prayers, cards, concern, driving, meals, and carrying things☺. Through two shoulder surgeries, the Lord who brought compassion to this earth showed me that the body functions on this giving and RECEIVING principle.
5. Correllary to 1-4 above. My heart is so thankful for God’s mercy in the university of trials, sorrow, and suffering.
Thank you, Lord, that I’m not throwing up.
Thank you, Lord, for the pain because it shows me how near you are.
Thank you, Lord, for all of these good people who care so deeply.
A prayer for all of us:
Thank you, Lord, for your great mercy in sickness and in health. I am so aware in writing this that many are suffering with struggles much harder than a “routine” shoulder surgery. We implore you, Lord, to reveal your kindness, mercy, compassion, and love in each and every person’s heart today. Be so near to those who need your mercy, which is all of us. You are good, all the time, and we thank you for your love, mercy, and compassion.
