“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I came home from the hospital on Sunday after six days in residence. In medical history questionnaires I could always answer “no” to any kind of surgery. No more! Surgery is used to correct areas of the body that need healing, but then the corrections need their own healing, right? So, how am I doing after surgery? I feel great! Still, there are lessons I am learning as I am in the recovery process. 

We are all in recovery. You are in recovery too. Did you know that? All creation is subject to groaning, to ill-health. All creation is waiting for the day when the perfection God intended is restored. (Romans 8:22-23) That includes you and me. Once we give our hearts to Christ, the process of recovery from the sickness of sin begins. However, the complete healing won’t be manifest until the day we are in Christ’s presence continually, until we go to Him in heaven or the day He comes back to earth. We are all in recovery. So, how is your recovery going? Let me share a few things that I am learning in this physical recovery process. Perhaps it will encourage you in your own recovery.  

I don’t get to choose what my recovery looks like. In the first day after surgery I needed help to do pretty much everything. That is a difficult place to be in for most of us. We can fight against it or accept it. I have been healing really quickly. By Day Two I didn’t need much help at all. After a week, my doctor has said that, except for lifting, I can return to normal activity. That isn’t true for everyone. Some people take longer to heal, or have surgery that is more invasive and requires longer healing. You and I don’t get to choose that. We don’t get to choose how quickly our bodies recover or how quickly we get over the effects of sin in our lives. Sometimes the most difficult part of our recovery is to accept the process as it is.

Whatever recovery from the effects of sin looks like in your life, you don’t get to choose it. I don’t know how your sin, or the sins of others, has affected you. I don’t know what damage has been caused in your life, but I do know that God is the One in charge of your recovery and mine. He determines how quickly you and I recover. He determines what the healing process looks like for each of us. Our responsibility is to cooperate with the process as He has designed it for us. We can slow it down by not cooperating, or by taking matters into our own hands and trying to speed it up, but we don’t get to control it. Your task: Cooperate, don’t try to control. 

Restrictions are necessary, but usually not permanent. For me, the most restrictive part of the recovery process has come in the form of food, what I can or can’t eat as my insides heal. The very first thing I asked for after surgery was water. The nurse’s aid came back and hesitantly informed me that I was not allowed anything by mouth, not even ice chips. At first I was surprised and a bit disappointed, but it made a lot of sense. My body needed time. The next day I was allowed a clear liquid diet. Not very exciting, but at least I could drink water and eat jello. The third day I was allowed a soft diet. That included foods with real flavor and texture. The first taste of noodles with Swedish meatballs after not eating much of anything for almost a week was a beautiful moment. I was overcome with gratitude to God for that taste! I didn’t have much appetite, and couldn’t eat most of what was on my tray, but I was so grateful to be moving forward and enjoyed the chocolate pudding completely!

Our kitty is also facing restrictions as a pathway to healing. She paid too much attention to grooming a sore that is now infected. In order for that sore to heal she is not allowed to lick it. If you have a pet, then you know that the only remedy to this is the “cone of shame.” (Thanks to the movie Up for that description!) You can’t tell a cat not to do something. You have to take measures that prevent it. The poor kitty has to wear the cone collar until the sore heals. She is a sweet kitty and hasn’t fought it too much, but occasionally shakes her head trying to get out of it. When she tries to lick the sore, she can’t and often just looks confused and humiliated. But it won’t last forever. Right now, she doesnt know that. But eventually, the cone will come off and her restrictions will be over. 

You may be in a time of restriction right now as part of your healing process. Perhaps you paid too much attention to something that now needs time to heal. Most restrictions are temporary and even though you dont really know how long your restrictions may last, don’t fight against it. The restrictions are necessary to your healing. Whatever you may be missing right now is worth it. Even if your restriction turns out to be permanent, isn’t it worth your recovery? Cooperate, don’t try to control. 

Embrace the freedoms when given. I have been very careful with what I have been eating and doing my best to follow the soft diet given me for my healing. When I saw the doctor a week after surgery so that he could remove the staples (just three or four, by the way) he told me that I need to eat more and can eat whatever I want. My initial feeling was hesitation. Really? I can eat whatever I want already? 

Some of us overthink things. I have learned that is one of my “recovery” areas. My mind fills with questions and I try to figure things out on my own. “What if I return to normal activity too soon? What if I eat the wrong thing? How will that affect my body?” Overthinking, is one way that I try to control the process rather than cooperate. The doctor has said that I have the freedom to move forward. I need to cooperate with that or my attempts to protect myself through continued restrictions will slow, not help, my healing.

What about you, my friend? Has God told you to go ahead in an area where you may be trying to protect yourself? Has He spoken freedom to you in an area that you are still trying to restrict? Don’t try to manage it by overthinking. It’s time to move forward. Cooperate, don’t try to control. 

Dear Friend, I hope that my lessons from recovery help you. Recognize that you are in recovery just as much as I am. God is the One designing what your recovery process looks like. He may impose temporary restrictions for your healing. He may be speaking freedom to you in an area that you want to protect. Wherever you are in your recovery journey, cooperate, don’t try to control!

Blessings, my friend!

Key thought: God is the one in charge of your recovery process. 

A Scripture to consider: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A YES challenge: In what area might you be trying to control your recovery process? What is one step you can take to cooperate with God’s design for your recovery?

Prayer: Dear Lord, I thank You for designing the recovery process I most need. I don’t always understand it and I sometimes try to adjust it to my liking, but I want to fully cooperate with You. Forgive me for the ways I try to control and manage my recovery. Help me to let go and stop trying to control it. I choose to completely trust You. Amen.