Progress in the Process

 

When I worked as a therapist in the hospital, we treated many orthopedic patients. Most of these patients had undergone surgeries, and our job was to develop a recovery program for them. 

On the first day, we educated the patients about the program and explained the uphill battle of recovery. We warned them that they would likely peak in pain, swelling, and stiffness around day three, ensuring they were prepared for this challenging time with no surprises. However, when that peak day arrived, about 9 out of 10 patients would complain about how awful they felt and question whether having the surgery was a good idea. Many preferred to stay in bed and rest rather than engage in therapy. Our duty was to convince them that we couldn't stop now; we needed to make progress to achieve full recovery. Progress was the only way to move forward in the process of reaching our goals.

In the Old Testament, there is a story about the Israelite people's journey from slavery in Egypt to the freedom of the Promised Land. The journey was difficult; the Israelites faced hardships that made them want to quit. They cried out to God, asking Him to take them out of their situation. But God responded by saying that the way out was to continue making progress.

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on.  (Ex. 14:15)

As followers of Jesus, we experience moments when God works on us and performs surgery on our hearts. The recovery process involves hardships and pain and we find ourselves in circumstances that may make us want to give up. We cry out to God, asking Him to free us from our struggles. We often complain about how difficult the process is and yearn for an escape. However, the Bible reminds us that the only way forward is to keep moving ahead—making progress, maturing in Christ, and growing spiritually. God desires to guide us to a place of healing—our spiritual rest, our promised land.