Last week after getting my wisdom teeth removed, plus one added bonus, making it a total of five teeth, I got a little frantic as suddenly I felt one of my stitches loosening up. It had only been five days since my surgery, and I had been told and read that most stitches last at least seven to ten days. Hence my anxiety. Much like this paragraph might be TMI for you, I then proceeded to call my doctor and explain in full detail what was going on in my mouth. I know y’all, it’s disturbing. I do apologize. But it could be so much worse. Relief flooded me when the nurse told me that was very normal and I was okay. Oh, and while I was at it, to eat something more than just Slim Fast. Not only was I relieved, but also I was ecstatic, because well, food. Need I say more? I was starving for something solid.
Ironically, the next morning I had a different doctors appointment where I proceeded to spill my guts and ask every question in the book about all sorts of things. I left that appointment with answers and feeling very secure for the path that lay ahead of me.
I also felt very humbled.
Other than a counselor, and maybe your spouse, who else do you feel complete freedom with to ask some of the most bizarre questions, and not only that, but share what others would label as WAY to much information, besides a doctor?
But the truth is, if you really want to get well, or fix something that is broken, you have to be 100% transparent with your doctor and do everything they tell you to get well. And last I checked, I think we’re all into the getting well business. Who likes to be sick, broken and messed up? It’s no way to live abundantly.
You see, I would be what you might consider the perfect patient.
Anyone, eh hem, my mother and best friend, could testify to this.
For instance, as I mentioned, I had my wisdom teeth removed. Upon leaving the doctors office after your surgery, they give you a sheet of paper along with your prescription medications explaining the step-by-step process on how to heal the quickest and easiest. The minute I was out of my coma to a place I could actually comprehend what I was reading, I poured over that sheet front and back, word for word.
Not only did I nearly memorize every word, I also did what it said. It was, in fact, the only way to get well.
When I got off the phone with the doctor the other day I kind of chuckled to myself as I thought about all doctors and nurses have to go through. They see the good, the bad and the very, very ugly. I realize I’m no nurse, but I happen to have a nurse as a roommate, and let me tell you, she and I lead very different day jobs.
Because my mind never sits in one place, I immediately thought of how this affects our relationship with God. The degree to which we’ll be honest with Him about our deep messes, our brokenness and intense struggles (as if He isn’t already intimately acquainted with every detail), is the degree to which we’ll be healed.
And the degree to which we’ll do what He tells us to do to trash the trash in our lives, also holds some weight. Sometimes we know exactly what to do to get well, but we’re just stubborn enough not to do it. Yet, He says He’s given us everything we need for life and godliness. Not that we would get caught up in just following the rules, but that we would get caught up in the grace offered to us.
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4
Mercy, what messes we are all in. Not one of us is immune and not one of us is perfect. This is both good news and bad news! Because none of us is immune to any pit of sin means we need Jesus in the worst way, but because none of us will attain perfection here on earth means we can cut one another a little slack. It also means for those of us perfectionists, to take a chill pill. Or, for those of us holding someone to a perfect standard, to take them off the high horse we’ve put them on.
I’m far from being any type of scholar, but naturally I thought of the healing at the pool that Jesus performed.
“After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” John 5:1-9 (ESV)
I’m not going to pretend I know all the history of all that went on here, but can we all agree that thirty-eight years is a long time? I realize that some of us are bound up for much longer than that, but isn’t it exhausting?
I may have grown up in church, but I can assure you I didn’t even begin to think about grabbing onto some healing until I was 18 and a senior in high school. And it wasn’t for the lack of people encouraging me, pointing me towards truth and loving on me. It was because of my own pride, and the fact that I liked my sin. It felt good. I can’t imagine an invalid feeling good, but I can imagine getting too lazy in our sin that we never want to get up and move on, because if any of us have tried, we can testify that it is h-a-r-d.
Notice that after Jesus asked him if he wanted healing, he didn’t even say yes! He gave an excuse as to why he was still laying there.
Is that not so true of us? We can think of every excuse in the book as to why our healing has yet to come to us. As to why we’re still drowning in sin. Or why that stronghold still holds all the power in the world over us.
“I have no one to help me…” who are we waiting for? Who are you waiting for? What is that one thing you think can heal you? Sister, stop waiting. His name is Jesus.
That brokenness, that shame, that addiction, the mindset, that sin cycle, that stronghold, that lie, that greed, that lust, that past, that hate. He came for that. Our excuses, though they may seem legitimate at the time, are illegitimate.
“Get up, take up your bed and walk!” Today is the day.
If it seems impossible, it might be, but the Lord knows your fears. Knows how painful it might be. But He’s still telling you to get up and walk! Walk free! Walk confidently! Maybe it’s time to stop asking God for some healing and believe He’s granted us the freedom. The freedom He gave us on the cross.
Or maybe you have yet to even ask the Lord for some freedom, but you’re dying for some! Today is the day to ask! Tell Him every single detail. What may seem insignificant to you, is not to Him.
Some of us need to let God simply demonstrate His power through us.
He is trustworthy. He cares. He sees. He loves.
And ultimately, He heals.
Walk on, Sister.
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1-2 (ESV)
Carrie, Burnsville, MN (2 verses for May 1 and 15):
Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)
18 “But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
19 For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
What a great post! This is just the right way to start the week. Blessings, Lindsee. I’m thankful for your words.
Lindsee –
Don’t know if you read comments posted this late to your awesome post, but I wanted you to know two things:
1) this was WONDERFUL and timely! Thank you so much for writing it!
2) I have a silly wisdom tooth story I gotta share.
I only had 3 wisdom teeth. First two have their own story cuz I was a recent grad, doing temporary work with no med insurance. I participated in a paid medication experiment that took out wisdom teeth at no charge. No lie. But that’s not the funny story! My 3rd and final wisdom tooth was impacted. Surgery required and, after my experience with the first two teeth, desired! At this point, I had met “my man” Vince, but I think the out-patient procedure happened before we wed. Being fiercely independent, I told him I could drive myself to and from but he insisted on driving me. THANK GOD. Supposedly,as I was coming out of anesthesia, I turned to Vince and said all matter-of-factly, “Did you know that the doctor saves all the teeth and makes pottery out of them?” Yes I did. And he still married me. The nurses were cracking up and I think, now, that they and the doc had a little fun answering my incoherent questions before my guy entered the room to get me.
Glad God only gave me three wisdom teeth!!!
LOVE to you, Siesta!
Jennifer! I do read the comments! Grin. Thank you for sharing that with me. So funny! No way could I have driven myself home after that surgery. I honestly don’t remember much of the ride home. Egads. 🙂
I was so hoping I was the 38th to respond on this post…LOL. But just wanted to let you know how I was just putting together next month’s Sunday school lesson. I picked this lesson back in December, because I thought it would be cool to have a lesson in June with the word “pool” in it. But I love knowing that the Holy Spirit led you and I both to those stories. P.S. Yes Lord, I want to be healed; by you and you only.
Hi Lindsee,
I love your posts and have not commented before to you!! This one was right on track and blessed me abundantly. I do want to be healed and know He is the one to do that for me. I love Psalm 16 and was reading it this morning……to rest in His unfailing love and His presence.
Irene
Thank you for this Lindsee! I am so blessed that you are on the LPM team. You encourage me to serve the Lord and to be myself. And also, I love this message! I want to be a good patient.
There are so many things that hold us back. For me, I like to be in control of everything. But it’s amazing what God will do when we let go and seek Him, allow His healing in our lives, and walk His path!
Stacy B. Detroit, MI
” a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,” (NIV)
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Romans 5: 1-2 (NIV)
Michelle Baylerian
Waukesha, WI
For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. 2Cor 4:17 HCSB
Lindsee,
Didn’t want to post this on the Scripture memory post, but could I just request that you record I’d Rather Have Jesus. After listening to you sing it on Sunday, I could listen to it on repeat. It was beautiful!!!
And I am so excited there is a summer Bible study. I figured there wouldn’t be one this year since I didn’t remember reading anything about it yet.
Jennifer
Jennifer, thank you so much for your super kind words. Clearly the song hit me like a ton of bricks! Praise the Lord it ministered to others. And yes! The summer study won’t be as involved, but it’s happening! Yippee!
God certainly spoke to me through this. Thank you for posting it!
Denise from Toledo 5/15
Psalm 9:1-2
I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name,
O Most High. NIV
Denissa C. Brownfield, TX
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Hebrews 10:36 NIV
thank you so much for these words, lindsee. God is absolutely telling me to get up and walk in freedom!
Carol Wiglesworth
Olathe, Kansas
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23, 24 NIV)
Betty, Loma Linda
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shall thou labor and do all thy work:
But the 7th day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shall not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.
For in 6 days thy Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the 7th day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:8-11 KJV
Great post! I just wanted to share a song I’ve been listening and it spekas the same message. It’s “Do you wanna be well” sung by Wes Hampton (Gaither Vocal Band), check it out on YouTube
Rathdrum, ID
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
Proverbs 31:19,20 NIV
Psalm 139:23-24 NIV
Search me, O God, and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
“Now, repent of your sins and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped away. ACTS 3:19NIV