Simple Faith

I suffered for years with severe, debilitating pain in my neck and between my shoulder blades. The cause was identified long ago as herniated discs on either side of an existing spinal fusion. Along the way I was treated with rest, ice, massage, exercise, muscle relaxants, pain pills, injections in trigger points, and radial ablation. Recently, I realized I was not improving because the doctors were treating the pain rather than fixing the problem! I typically support a conservative approach to medical issues, however, at some point I needed the problem fixed.

I no longer had feeling in two of my fingers and with the constant pain in my neck I was unable to play guitar or even type very well. Since playing guitar and writing are two of my passions, this was serious! My surgeon, reportedly a great physician, agreed that I had a reasonable expectation of relief from pain and the eventual return of feeling to my fingers. That was good enough for me … let’s do this!

Surgery was successful. The crippling pain in my back was gone immediately thanks to a metal plate and 8 screws giving my neck stability until bone growth occurs between the vertebrae. Within a couple of days I could feel my fingers again. Hallelujah! Except for the discomfort associated with recovery I was on my way to feeling good again.

It’s been almost 6 weeks since surgery and I am experiencing the most amazing things. The feeling has returned to my fingers, which was expected, but I had not realized how much strength and feeling I had lost in the rest of my hand. The biggest surprise is my ability to walk up a flight of stairs without gasping for breath when I reach the top. It turns out that one of the nerves pinched in my neck was preventing my diaphragm from working efficiently. I’m not getting old, I just needed an overhaul!!!

I share this story with you to tell you how good God is. He not only healed the things I knew needed fixing, He healed areas in my body that only He knew about. He truly is the Great Physician. I am reminded of Ephesians 3:20-21 …

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. (NASB)

I am constantly amazed at how good God is and how he cares for me so gently and tenderly. When I think I have everything all figured out He quietly “shows off” by taking my understanding or healing to a level I never dreamed of. With renewed functionality and energy, I can hardly wait to see what He has planned for me next.