A little over four years ago, in all my grace and glory and in front of several family members, I took a tumble down some stairs.  I forgot about my pride pretty quickly because I knew I had badly damaged my ankle.   At first, I couldn’t even feel my foot, but in time it was excruciatingly painful.  I could not get up on my own, and of course walking was out of the question. 

My son and husband were able to get me to the car and take me to the hospital.   After a few days, the swelling was down enough for surgery to repair my ankle and leg.  The recovery period was rough as far as pain was concerned, but even more so because I couldn’t put weight on the foot for several weeks.   My only choice was to become dependent on others.

Six weeks later I began therapy to learn to walk again.  It was so hard and so painful.  I just wanted to quit!  I shed many tears after leaving therapy, and my feelings said, “Just don’t go back.”   My head knew I had to go back.  Following my feelings would have kept me crippled.  

On one really difficult therapy day, I wanted to cry and scream, but being a victorious woman of God, I sucked it up in front of them.   My therapist finally looked at me and said, “Your problem is you are concentrating on the pain instead of the healing that is ahead.”    Mic drop!  Over the next several months, I learned to walk through the pain.  Some days were hard, really hard.  Today, I walk without a limp and without pain.   How?  I kept my focus on the healing. 

My heart is filled with compassion for so many people who are in the throes of crippling, painful situations in this life.    Life can be downright traumatic.    Perhaps we didn’t even see the tumble down the stairs coming.  Perhaps the tumble is  a health crisis, an employment issue, betrayal or abuse, loss of a loved one, family division.  Maybe something started off like a hill and has now become a mountain.

The apostle Paul wrote, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).   He didn’t sugar coat it.  Paul said, “Life has been tough.  We even took blows that struck us down, but they did not destroy us.”    I am not sugar coating it either.  Life is so painful at times, so demanding at times.  We take hard blows that knock the breath out of us, and maybe knock us to the ground. 

So often we try to medicate the pain with food, alcohol, overspending, immoral behavior, and a host of other things.   Yet, when those things have run their course, the pain is still there.     That battle you’re facing – I know it’s difficult. I know it feels impossible and heart-wrenching, but I also believe Jesus is saying, “Keep your focus on healing.  Keep your focus on me.  The pain is real, but I am more real.  Walk towards healing.”

Consider believing God’s perspective and claiming a victory even when you don’t feel or look victorious.  When the pain is real, keep walking towards healing.   When we do that, we will be able to walk with hope.  

God has given us victory, but we must learn to walk victoriously.    There is the emotional shout of victory, and then there is the walk of victory.   The latter requires walking through the pain on the way to healing.    The latter requires focus on the One who brings healing.  

“Life can throw its best weapons at you, and they are no match for the Almighty God that is in you. Satan will try to deceive you by planting doubt and discouragement in you. Cast all of those feelings on Jesus because His burden is light. Stand firm on the Word of God and in Prayer. You will overcome the evil one. The victory is yours.” – Chuck Musselwhite