Another Rehab Verse

It was nice to feel like I am getting back to normal today. I have had more energy and am feeling much better than the past ten days.

I enjoyed lunch today with my friend Dary Northrup. Dary is the Lead Pastor at Timberline Church where we attend. Dary’s history at the church is an incredible history of excellent leadership, the Lord’s blessing and a growing congregation making an impact on one of the leading cities in Colorado.

This afternoon I was back to Northern Colorado Rehab Hospital for my outpatient therapy. It was a good workout and it was nice to see the progress that I am making. I walked 220 feet with a walker twice. That is in addition to using my regular walker to get in and out of the building. I have been thinking about how just a year ago I was recovering from a major surgery getting ready for transition to the rehab hospital and from this point looking forward to next year and anticipating the possibility of full recovery. I believe the tests over the next few weeks will give some good insight into what is ahead and any adjustments in my care plan that need to take place.

Bible Verse for Today…. “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God….He will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:3,4

This is the third “rehab verse” that has stuck out to me. The first one was actually given to me by my friend and retired Rehabilitation Doctor Ken Parsons. It is Hebrews 12:12,13  “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.”

A few months ago I found this one in Psalms 116:8,9 “For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”

When I came across this verse in Isaiah in my morning Bible reading it stuck out to me as another “rehab verse.” Just this afternoon my occupational therapist was testing the strength of my hands. They seem to be good at this point! My nerve conduction test of last week provided some reason why my right leg and knee is so weak. This is due to nerves that are still regenerating in a manner that send the proper signal to the muscles to grow and strengthen. I am thankful for stronger hands and healing nerves and muscles.

What I find of interest with this verse in Isaiah is the connection between the physical condition and the emotions. When recovery is prolonged anxiety can quickly set in. How long will this take? What will full recovery look? Am I making progress? Why is it so slow? Will I ever be back to “normal”?

The message loud and clear to the anxious of heart is, “be strong, fear not!” Don’t look to the state you are in, but look at what the Lord is doing and what He is able to do. That call is not to focus on your limitations, but to “behold your God!” Look to the Lord! I once read, “you can look around and be distressed, you can look in and be depressed, or you can look up and be blessed!”

When we look to the Lord we find strength for our bodies and courage for our heart and confidence in the Lord our God who is mighty to save. Remember “salvation” carries the idea of wholeness, not just forgiveness. Our Lord is able to make new in spirit, mind and body.