You Must Go Through.

It was back on May 22nd that I had surgery on my Achille's Tendon.  The plan was for me to have a 4-6 week recovery and then slowly start standing and walking.  It's now week 7 and I'm still not on my feet.  Is this God's plan?  

Some things happened along the way.  On June 12th I suffered a massive pulmonary embolism.  After the fact, my cardiologist told me he didn't think I would survive.  Looking back, I see the hand of God every step of the way.  I was out of the hospital in just a few days, with a new way of living.  Is this God's plan?

Then there is my clumsiness.  I've never been the most graceful person in the world.  A couple times now I have lost my balance and stepped down onto my recovering foot.  Each time, I add extra recovery time.  Right now my surgeon is concerned the tendon isn't healing right.  We are taking it week by week.  Is this God's plan?

God has me going through these things because He loves me and He has something to teach me. I wish it were easier. The really good lessons are never easy. I have regretted this surgery time and time again. But I can't go back. I can't live in regret. I have to go through it.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

In the same was Moses went through the desert. In the way Mary went through birth. In the same way Jesus went through the crucifixion. Many times, especially as Americans, we look for ways to get around things. We need to embrace the pain, and the struggle, grab Jesus' hand and move through it. It's not easy. Is this God's plan?  Yes. 

Terese Main is a morning co-host at Family Life, a network of nearly 70 Christian radio stations across New York and Pennsylvania (www.fln.org).  She is a freelance air personality in Kansas, Arizona and Texas also provides imaging voicework for stations in Florida, California, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin (www.themainvoice.com).