She told me to take a step and I just stared at her baffled.
“How?” I asked.
I stood there wiping small beads of sweat off my forehead. (And I’m not one to sweat).
What in the world was going on? I had walked my whole life why could I not will myself to take a step?
My physical therapist reassured me this was completely normal after not walking for months. She said some really long word about how our brains forget and have to be retrained.
I had undergone reconstruction surgery and had arches put in my very flat, deformed, feet. (Our boys inherited the same feet and had the same surgeries, it was a family affair you could say).
I remember the first step I took with my new feet after my cast was off and I gotten home.
It was painful and well, weird. My husband held onto my hands as I stepped forward.
Fear began to overwhelm me and tears welled up in my eyes.
Every step I took was unsure and painful.
I was so frustrated and I kept asking my husband, “What if I never walk normal again?”
He kept reassuring me and telling me to be patient that I had just been through major surgery and it was going to take time.
I knew what he was saying was true, but I just wanted my life back and the normalcy I had taken for granted.
I had been through six months of grueling surgeries and knew there would be many months of physical therapy ahead of me.
As I journeyed through this process, I couldn’t help but notice the parallels to my faith when it feels weak and wobbly.
When everything feels unsure and scary and it feels we are standing on anything but a firm foundation.
Scripture was my lifeline.
And I found this verse written by Peter which gave me hope.
(Now, remember this is the disciple who had denied His Lord three times before His crucifixion. Can you imagine how weak his faith felt after that?)
Listen to his words years later given for our encouragement:
“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To Him be the power and glory for ever and ever Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11
Friend, I don’t know why we have to go through so much in this life, but I do know our Father in Heaven will use it to make our faith solid and secure. To help us not flounder all over the place when we encounter trials and tribulations.
And, I also believe it’s because sometimes we need a reminder where our strength comes from.
I don’t know what you are going through today dear one, but please don’t give up.
Keep getting back up and walking even if it’s with a limp.
Because your Savior, the author and perfecter of your faith, (even when it feels wobbly) began a good work in you and will finish it to completion. (Philippians 1:6)
When I was at one of my last appointments with my foot surgeon, Dr. Fallat, I asked him:
“Will my feet be strong? Like they aren’t going to break on me are they?”
He looked and me and smirked and with a twinkle in his eye said:
“Your feet have titanium in them Holly. They are about as strong at they could be. You could jump out of a plane if you wanted to and land on solid footing.”
It is now ten years later and Dr. Fallat was right after all.
My feet became strong, stronger than I ever imagined. And not only did the surgeries change my life, but so did the long suffering.
Please know I’m not trying to sugar coat this, I know life can be hard and cruel.
And that there will be times we will go through things where our faith feels so weak we will forget how to walk.
Fear will overwhelm us, we will wonder if our lives can ever be normal again, and we will need others to encourage us, reassure us, and push us to keep going.
But most importantly I also know this truth– we have a Great Physician who lifts his kids out of pits of despair and sets our feet on solid ground and steadies us as we walk. (Psalm 40:2)
Who promises to make His kids strong, firm, and steadfast.
And all will be for His glory.
Forever and ever, Amen.
Excellent! There is no greater way to share faith, than sharing our real experiences. It also helps us learn to know each other better!
Norma, thank you friend for coming by. :)And amen! xoxo