spiritual surgery

1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Proverbs 3:1-8

About 25 years ago, I went through a deep depression. God wasn't against me; he was just rebuilding me. During that time, he was doing some necessary work on my character. The lessons I would learn in the short-term have made me more effective for his work in the long-term. He taught me to have sympathy for hurting people by allowing me to hurt. That was a dimension that had been seriously lacking in my life. God taught me to be confident in him, not in myself. All of my carefully laid plans fell apart. Then he stepped in and put everything back together.

It was a time of spiritual drought in my life. At times I was angry at God, and I resented what he was doing to me. But now I look back on that period and I see his goodness everywhere.

God was so faithful to me that he chose to make some needed repairs to my heart and character before it was too late. But for a time, I didn't realize that I was in surgery. God was operating on me spiritually just as a surgeon would operate on me physically. I had some serious malignant tumors of selfishness and arrogance that had to be removed.

If you're looking at the circumstances of your life and all is dark, don't lose heart. Perhaps your business has failed, perhaps you're reading this in a hospital bed, perhaps you're enduring another round of chemotherapy, perhaps a co-worker has just edged you out of a well-deserved promotion. Maybe you're feeling that God has abandoned you.

Trust in Jesus (Proverbs 3:5-6). You can't see it now, but you're actually in a place of growth. Remain open and teachable. Pray that you will learn everything the Lord has for you in this situation. Realize that this is a time of spiritual surgery, and healing will come! —Steve Farrar stevefarrar.com

seeking: Jesus, what encouragement have you brought to me this day? What praise have you placed on my lips?

responding: How have my discouraging days taught me more about God and his love for me? • What is God teaching me about the need to trust him more?

Jesus, I praise you for your steadfast care. Though things may be hard right now, I choose to trust you and to follow you with all that I am.

following: God sometimes wounds us to heal us.

our journey