Healing

If you follow my blog, you know I was in NY for almost a full month caring for my mom who fell and broke her hip and elbow. Consequently, I missed a month of Physical Therapy for my frozen shoulder. I did try to do my home exercises most days, but only the bare minimum. I was too busy to handle more than that. I worried a little about what would happen without therapy, but it didn't matter. My mom's needs were paramount.

Today, I went back to PT for the first time in a month.
"How's the shoulder?" my PT asked.
"Look." I showed her my strangely improved range of motion. Despite no PT, my arm has near miraculously been healing.
"Wow," the PT said. "Do you think you need me any more?"
"Not really," I said.
"I agree!"

And so I am finally discharged from PT. My range is not yet fully restored, but it is close. I have no more functional restrictions. I called my Mom to tell her.
"See Mom, therapy works. When I first started rehab, I was sure I would never again be able to move my arm fully and without pain. Now I am discharged with nearly full range and no pain! Do not give up!"

God has sent me this message in countless ways over the past year, most significantly with my cancer diagnosis. A friend who is reading my new book about that year of trial and tribulation posted this excerpt from my book on Facebook. I had forgotten I wrote that, but I think it is valuable advice to many of us who are struggling with severe trials.

1. If you have learned to trust God in the small things, you have all you need to trust God in the harder things. In fact, in some ways it is easier to trust God in the hard things because you have NO DOUBT you cannot do it on your own power.
2. When taking a path you would never have taken on your own, you learn you can do things you never thought you would, or could do. Sometimes being forced to walk a road you would rather not walk is the only way you learn you CAN.
3. Every new step taken in faith brings unexpected blessings. The less familiar the path you are urged to travel, the greater the trust required, and the greater assurance you are guided by something greater than yourself.
4. There is immense contentment and joy that you submitted to HIS will, not your will, because the promise of what awaits at the completion is so glorious. "

I am glad I wrote this, because I agree with it! If we must go through trials, and the Bible promises we must, then I would rather go through them with a Godly perspective. He doesn't always choose to heal us of our struggles without any effort on our part, but I am really glad He decided that freezing in the NY winter was as frozen as I needed to be, and freed my shoulder.
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1 Peter 5:10 

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

James 1:12 

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

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To purchase my new book with its encouraging message of going through trials with hope, please click HERE. I would be very grateful if you would download, review, and share this book info with your friends. It would make a great gift for someone struggling with life.