Recently I had knee replacement surgery, and I discovered through this experience that there are many parallels between this surgery and our spiritual growth. I am seeing many ways in which my surgery is helping my relationship with God. I offer to you 6 ways in which a surgery is like our walk with God.
In order to grow and become all that God wants us to be, we must:
1. Humbly admit we have a need.
I tried everything I could to improve my knee, but eventually I went to the doctor for it to be examined. There I learned I was “bone on bone” and the only real solution was to have a total knee replacement. I could have denied the truth and continued to live in pain, or I could humble myself and say, “I need help. I need someone else to do for me what will help me. I need to go through the process of surgery in order to get better.”
I am more convinced than ever that humility is one of the most important components to a healthy relationship with God. We begin with God by humbly admitting our sin and receiving Christ as Savior. We continue to progress with God as we walk in humble dependence upon Him. “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:6). If we are humble, we get more of His grace. If we are prideful, we quench his Holy Spirit. If we are humble, there is nothing he cannot show us that we need to work on. If we are prideful, we will remain in pain and bondage. Let us walk every day in humble reliance upon God.
2. Get help from others.
I needed a doctor, a physical therapist, and much help from my wife at home. If I tried to go through this alone, it would be a disaster. In the same way, God has given us the body of Christ and the community of believers to help us grow and become more sanctified. We need fellowship with others, accountability and the community of faith to help us advance in God. The moment we are saved, God’s Word says we become a member of the body of Christ. WE are not to live in isolation, but rather in relationship with other Christ-followers.
3. Allow pain to produce gain.
Surgery is a painful experience. Not only the surgery itself, but also the physical therapy. As one goes through physical therapy, you want to push to the point of pain, but not so much pain that you cause further damage.
God uses pain in our spiritual life to sometimes show us areas that need attention, while at other times causing us to depend more on his power for life and godliness. Pain in our physical body shows us that something needs attention. Pain in our spiritual life is a signal that something needs attention. If we ignore the pain, it will only get worse. If we try to cover the pain with sinful pleasure, we will suffer negative consequences.
Don’t expect growth in God to be easy. It can be a painful process. But allow the pain to produce spiritual gain through constantly abiding in Christ.
4. Be patient with the process of growth.
My recovery from this surgery is slow and not as quick as I would like. It will probably be four weeks until I can walk without a walker, and six months to one year before I can actually do a normal hike. In the same way, our spiritual growth is a process. It does not occur overnight. Jesus spent three full years with His disciples. Sanctification takes time, energy, effort, waiting on God, and many ups and downs. 1 John 2:12-14 likens spiritual growth to the physical growth of going from a child to an adolescent, to a mature adult. All of this takes time.
5. Put our faith and trust in the only One who can ultimately produce healing.
God he is the giver and the sustainer of life. Every breath we breathe is a gift from His grace and power. Even the healing of a small cut on one’s finger comes from the Almighty. Ultimate healing from my knee replacement surgery is by the power of the Creator of my body, Jesus Christ.
In the same way, our salvation is from the Lord, and our sanctification is produced by a work of God’s Spirit. “As we behold the glory of God, we are being transformed from one degree of glory to the next, by His Spirit.” (2 Cor 3:18). We certainly play a part in growth, like reading the word and prayer and obedience and fellowship and stepping out in faith, etc. but we do this resting in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, who ultimately produces the character change.
6. Enjoy the fruit that comes from obedience and abiding.
I cannot wait until I can go on a long hike, play pickleball and ride my bicycle again. More importantly, when we go through the process of growth and healing, we will experience the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience … (Gal. 5).
God blesses obedience. God honors His word. If we allow the Holy Spirit to fill us on a daily basis, we will experience the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and relationships. God will not be mocked, a man will reap what he sows (Gal. 6).
